Tectonic Plates Flashcards
Define plate boundary.
A place where two plates meet.
Explain the movement of a transform boundary.
When two plates are sliding parallel to each other in opposite directions.
What’s the speed of the movement of the transform boundary?
The speed of the movement of this boundary is very slow and suddenly slip quickly past each other.
What can a transform boundary cause?
This boundary can cause earthquakes.
Explain the movement of divergent boundaries.
When two plates are separating from each other.
Define rift.
A large gap between the plates (deep crack).
Define tectonic plates.
Massive slabs of rock that make up the crust.
Explain the movement of convergent boundaries.
When two plates collide with each other (come together).
What can a convergent boundary cause?
This boundary can form land features (e.g. mountains) and cause earthquakes.
What are convection currents?
They’re what causes tectonic plates to move.
What’s the first step of convection currents?
Radioactive material in the Earth’s core decays and releases lots of heat.
What’s the second step of convection currents?
The mantle becomes very hot and is in a semi-sold state.
What’s the third step of convection currents?
As magma is heated by the core, its atoms becomes energetic and they spread apart from each other.
What’s the fourth step of convection currents?
The magma becomes less dense (lighter) and it floats to the surface.
What’s the fifth step of convection currents?
The magma floating to the surface gets away from the heat source (the core). The atoms in the magma cool down, making them less energetic.
