Tectonic Plates Flashcards
What is the inner core made of?
Solid iron and nickel.
What is the outer core made of?
Liquid iron and nickel.
What is the mantle made of?
Semi-molten rock that moves very slowly.
Continental crust is…
Thicker (30-50km) and less dense.
Oceanic crust is…
Thinner (5-10km) and more dense.
What makes tectonic plates move?
Convection currents in the mantle.
What are destructive plate margins?
Boundaries where two plates are moving towards each other.
What are constructive plate margins?
Boundaries where two plates are moving away from one another.
What are conservative plate margins?
Boundaries where two plates are moving sideways past each other.
What happens when an oceanic plate and a continental plate meet?
The oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle and destroyed, because it is denser.
What happens when two continental plates meet?
The ground is folded and forced upwards, creating mountain ranges.
