Plate Tectonics Flashcards
(16 cards)
Crust
The outermost shell of a rocky planet
Mantle
Layer of molten rock between the crust and core
Core
Made up of mostly Iron. Separated into the outer core and inner core.
Tectonic Plate
The layer of rock that makes up the outer part of the Earth, including the crust and upper mantle.
Continental Drift Theory
The theory that continents gradually drifted over time to there present position
Asthenosphere
A thin layer of Earth, about 150 miles thick, at the border between the mantle and the crust
Convection Currents
The process in which the hotter part the a gas or liquid rise to the top and the cooler, denser parts sink.
Convergent Boundary
When two tectonic plates come together
Mountains
Uplift of crustal plates that form elevated lad masses
Volcanoes
A vent or fissure in Earths surface through which magma and gases are expelled
Transform Boundary
When tectonic Plates slide past eachother
Fault
Breaks in the crust. The movement causes seismic waves which produces earthquakes
Mid Ocean Ridge
A long ridge of underwater volcanoes between two diverging oceanic plate.
Subduction Zone
A place where one tectonic plate sinks under another and melts. Also forms a trench.
Rift Valley
A long narrow valley between two diverging continental plates.
Divergent Boundary
When tectonic plates split apart.
