PLATE MOTIONS Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is the theory that explains how Earth’s lithosphere is divided into several large, rigid plates that move relative to each other?
Plate tectonics
Which type of plate boundary is characterized by plates moving apart from each other?
Divergent boundary
At what type of plate boundary do earthquakes commonly occur?
Transform boundary
What is the term for the process by which one tectonic plate moves beneath another tectonic plate?
Subduction
What is the name for the supercontinent that existed about 300 million years ago where all the continents were joined together?
Pangaea
What is the driving force behind plate tectonics?
Mantle convection
In which layer of the Earth do tectonic plates move?
Lithosphere
Which boundary is formed when two plates move towards each other?
Convergent boundary
What type of boundary is responsible for the formation of mountain ranges?
Convergent boundary
What type of boundary is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge an example of?
Divergent boundary
Which scientist is credited with first proposing the theory of continental drift, a precursor to plate tectonics?
Alfred Wegener
What is the name for the theory that suggests that Earth’s lithosphere is divided into plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere?
Plate tectonics
What is the term for the process of new oceanic crust forming at mid-ocean ridges and moving away from the ridge?
Seafloor spreading
Which type of plate boundary is associated with volcanic activity?
Convergent boundary
At what type of boundary do the plates slide past each other horizontally?
Transform boundary
What is the name of the theory that suggests Earth’s lithosphere is broken into plates that move over the semi-fluid asthenosphere?
Plate tectonics
What is the term for the process of continents drifting apart from each other over time?
Continental drift
What is the name for the boundary where plates slide past each other horizontally?
Transform boundary
What is the term for the bending of rock layers due to stress in the Earth’s crust?
Deformation
What is the name of the supercontinent that existed about 600 million years ago before breaking apart?
Rodinia
Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of deep ocean trenches?
Convergent boundary
explained how the ocean arcos accumulated the denser elements then subsided to form basins,
continental assimilation hypothesis
largest minor Plates
• Arabian plate
•Caribbean platech
•Cocos plate
• Juan de fuca plate
• Nazca plate
• Philippine plate
• Scotia plate
Seven major plates
• African plate
• Antartic plate
• turasian plate
Indo-Australian plate
• North American plate
• Pacific plate
• South American plate