Vocabulary Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics PD1 Flashcards
What is the crust
The outermost shell of a rocky planet.
What is the mantle
Layer of molten rock between the crust and core
what is the core
Made up of mostly Iron. Separated into the outer core (molten) and inner core (solid)
what is a Tectonic plate
The layer of rock that makes up the outer part of the Earth, including the crust and upper mantle (lithospheric plates)
What is the Continental Drift Theory
The theory that continents gradually drifted over time to their present positions.
what is the Asthenosphere
A thin layer of Earth, about 150 miles thick, at the border between the mantle and the crust.
What is the Convection Current
The process in which the hotter parts of a gas or liquid rise to the top and the cooler, denser parts sink.
What is the Convergent Boundary
When two tectonic plates come together.
What are Mountains
Uplift of crustal plates that form elevated landmasses.
what are Volcanoes
A vent or fissure in Earth’s surface through which magma and gases are expelled.
what is Divergent Boundary
When tectonic plates split apart.
what is Transform Boundary
When tectonic plates slide past each other.
