Tectonic plates Flashcards
(17 cards)
Name all layers of earth :
- inner core
- outer core
- mantle
- crust
Crust =
The thinnest layer of the earth, where the hot rock rises and cold sinks
What is crust made of?
Of solid rock that can flow and move
How does crust move?
It moves in big circles caused by convection currents
differences and similarities between inner and outer core -
- They both are made of iron and nickel
- outer core is liquid
- inner core is hotter but the metals are solid
- outer core is where the magnetic field comes from
Tectonic plates =
pieces of earth’s crust and uppermost mantle
Convectional currents =
they occur within the mantle. Molten rock there gets heated by the earth’s core and then coals, acting like a conveyor belt for the plates above it.
Continental drift =
gradual movement of the continents across the earth’s surface. Caused by convectional currents
Name 10 main tectonic plates :
- Pacific
- North American
- Eurasian
- Pacific
- Australian
- Indian
- African
- South American
- Nazca
- Antarctic
Plate Boundaries =
where the plates meet each other. There are 4 different types of plate boundary.
Constructive Boundary =
Two plates move away from each other. Molten rock (magma) rises from the mantle to fill the gap between the two plates.
What do constructive boundaries cause?
Causes volcanoes and earthquakes but also forms mid-ocean ridges that develop into islands
Destructive Boundary =
When an oceanic crust and continental crust collide, the ocean goes below the continental. The continental rises to create fold mountains and volcanoes.
Subduction =
the process of plate sinking – often causes massive earthquakes like in Peru and Chile
Conservative Boundary =
Two plates slide past each other, without creating or destroying any land.
How do conservative boundaries cause earth quakes?
As they move past each other they often get stuck, building up great pressure until finally they jolt past each other. This sudden movement is what causes earthquakes.
Collision Boundary =
When 2 continental plates come together, both of them get forced up creating fold mountain ranges like the Himalayas.
