Moving Plates and Continental Drift

Continental Drift

The theory that continents slowly move across Earth's surface.

Pangaea

The ancient supercontinent that existed before breaking apart into modern continents.

Convection Currents

Circulating heat currents in the mantle that drive tectonic plate movement.

Constructive Boundary

Where plates move apart, creating new crust (e.g., Mid-Atlantic Ridge).

Destructive Boundary

Where plates collide, resulting in subduction or mountain building (e.g., the Andes).

Transform Boundary

Where plates slide past each other horizontally (e.g., San Andreas Fault).

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of Earth, broken into moving tectonic plates.

Asthenosphere

The semi-fluid mantle layer beneath the lithosphere that allows plate motion.