tectonics

Question 1

Lithosphere

Answer 1

the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Question 2

Asthenosphere

Answer 2

the upper layer of the earth’s mantle, below the lithosphere, in which there is relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection is thought to occur.

Question 3

Mesosphere

Answer 3

the region of the earth’s atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere, between about 30 and 50 miles (50 and 80 km) in altitude.

Question 4

Inner Core

Answer 4

he Earth’s inner core is the Earth’s innermost part and according to seismological studies, it has been believed to be primarily a solid ball with a radius of about 1,220 kilometres (760 miles), which is about 70% of the Moon’s radius. It is composed of an iron–nickel alloy and some light elements.

Question 5

Outer Core

Answer 5

The outer core of the Earth is a fluid layer about 2,300 km (1,400 mi) thick and composed of mostly iron and nickel that lies above Earth’s solid inner core and below its mantle. Its outer boundary lies 2,890 km (1,800 mi) beneath Earth’s surface.

Question 6

Seismic Waves

Answer 6

an elastic wave in the earth produced by an earthquake or other means.

Question 7

Oceanic Crust

Answer 7

Oceanic crust is the uppermost layer of the oceanic portion of a tectonic plate. The crust overlies the solidified and uppermost layer of the mantle. The crust and the solid mantle layer together constitute oceanic lithosphere

Question 8

Continental Crust

Answer 8

the relatively thick part of the earth’s crust that forms the large landmasses. It is generally older and more complex than the oceanic crust.

Question 9

Density

Answer 9

the degree of compactness of a substance.

Question 10

Wegener

Answer 10

s a German polar researcher, geophysicist and meteorologist. During his lifetime he was primarily known for his achievements in meteorology and as a pioneer of polar research,

Question 11

Continental Drift

Answer 11

was a theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth’s surface. Set forth in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why look-alike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different

Question 12

Convergent Boundary

Answer 12

In plate tectonics, a convergent boundary, also known as a destructive plate boundary (because of subduction), is an actively deforming region where two (or more) tectonic plates or fragments of the lithosphere move toward one another and collide.

Question 13

Divergent Boundary

Answer 13

In plate tectonics, a divergent boundary or divergent plate boundary (also known as a constructive boundary or an extensional boundary) is a linear feature that exists between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other.

Question 14

Transform Boundary

Answer 14

A transform fault or transform boundary, is a type of fault whose relative motion is predominantly horizontal, in either a sinistral or dextral direction

Question 15

Sea-floor Spreading

Answer 15

is a process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge. Seafloor spreading helps explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics.

Question 16

Pangaea

Answer 16

Pangaea or Pangea was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras. It assembled from earlier continental units approximately 300 million years ago, and it began to break apart about 175 million years ago

Question 17

Laurasia

Answer 17

Laurasia was the more northern of two supercontinents that formed part of the Pangaea supercontinent around 300 to 200 million years ago.

Question 18

Gondwana

Answer 18

In paleogeography, Gondwana, also Gondwanaland, is the name given to an ancient supercontinent. It is believed to have sutured between about 570 and 510 million years ago, joining East Gondwana to West Gondwana

Question 19

Mesosaurus

Answer 19

Mesosaurus is an extinct genus of reptile from the Early Permian of southern Africa and South America. Along with the genera Brazilosaurus and Stereosternum, it is a member of the family Mesosauridae and the order Mesosauria

Question 20

Glossopteris

Answer 20

Glossopteris is the largest and best-known genus of the extinct order of seed ferns known as Glossopteridales. The genus Glossopteris refers only to leaves, within a framework of form genera used in paleobotany.