Untitled Deck Flashcards
Oceanic Crust
The dense, thin part of the Earth’s crust that lies beneath the ocean floor. It is primarily composed of basalt.
Continental Crust
The thicker, less dense part of the Earth’s crust that forms the continents. It is primarily composed of granite.
Lithosphere
The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle. It is divided into tectonic plates.
Mantle
The layer of the Earth located between the crust and the core. It slowly flows due to convection currents.
Outer Core
The liquid layer of the Earth’s core, made primarily of iron and nickel. It is responsible for generating the Earth’s magnetic field.
Inner Core
The solid innermost layer of the Earth, composed mainly of iron and nickel. It remains solid due to extremely high pressure.
Continental Drift
The hypothesis proposed by Alfred Wegener that suggests the continents were once part of a single supercontinent, Pangaea, which broke apart.
Divergent Plate Boundary
A type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates move away from each other. Can create mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.
Convergent Plate Boundary
A type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates move toward each other. Can form mountains, trenches, and volcanic activity.
Transform Plate Boundary
A type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other. This movement can cause earthquakes.
Sea Floor Spreading
The process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges as tectonic plates move apart.
Mid-ocean Ridge
An underwater mountain range formed by tectonic plates diverging at a boundary. It is a site of new oceanic crust formation.
Hot Spot
A stationary area in the mantle where hot magma rises through the crust, creating volcanic activity. Hot spots can form volcanic islands.
Convection Current
The circular movement of material caused by differences in temperature and density within a fluid, such as the mantle.
Crust
Outermost layer of the Earth.
Outer core
Liquid layer of the Earth.
Inner core
Solid due to high pressure.
Density
Greatest in the inner core.
Plate Tectonics
The Earth’s surface is divided into plates that move.
Divergent boundary
Moves away from each other.
Convergent continental plates
Forms a mountain range.
San Andreas Fault
A transform boundary.
Subduction
When one plate goes under another.
Volcanoes
Mostly form at divergent and convergent boundaries.
