Plate Tectonics Flashcards
Lithosphere
the solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle
Asthenosphere
the soft layer of the mantle on which tectonic plates move
Mesosphere
the strong, lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere
Inner Core
the solid, dense center of our planet that extends from the bottom of the outer core to the center of the earth
Outer Core
the liquid layer of the earth’s core that lies beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core
Seismic Waves
Oceanic Crust
part of the crust that is in the ocean
Continental Crust
part of the crust that is on land
Density
he number of things—which could be people, animals, plants, or objects—in a certain area
Alfred Wegener
scientist who came up with continental drift
Continental Drift
the hypothesis that states the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations
Convergent Boundary
the boundary formed by the collision of two lithospheric plates
Divergent Boundary
the boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other
Transform Boundary
the boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontal
Sea-floor Spreading
the process by which new oceanic lithosphere forms as magma rises toward the surface and solidifies
