APES Unit 4.1 Plate Tectonics

What are the five layers of the Earth?

Core, Mantle, Asthenosphere, Lithosphere, Crust

What is the difference between the asthenosphere and the lithosphere?

Asthenosphere: Solid, flexible outer layer of mantle
Lithosphere: Thin, brittle layer of rock floating on mantle

What are the three types of plate boundaries?

Divergent, Convergent, Transform Faults

What are Divergent plate boundaries? What causes them?

Plates that move away from each other due to rising magma plumes that force them apart

What are Convergent plate boundaries? What occurs during them?

When plates move into each other, leading to subduction

What are Transform Fault Plate Boundaries?

When plates slide past each other in opposite directions

What kinds of formations do Divergent plate boundaries create?

Oceanic ridges, volcanoes, rift valleys

What kinds of formations do Convergent plate boundaries create?

Mountains, earthquakes, volcanoes

What type of event occurs during a Transform plate boundary?

Earthquakes that form when the edges of each plate get stuck against each other, building up pressure and releasing suddenly

What are the three types of Convergent boundaries?

Oceanic-Oceanic, Oceanic-Continental, Continental-Continental

What is the difference between Oceanic-Oceanic and Oceanic-Continental boundaries?

O-O will create offshore trenches and volcanoes while O-C will create trenches and volcanoes closer/on shore

What happens during Continental-Continental boundaries?

One plate subducts under the other and forces surface crust upwards, creating mountains

What is the ring of fire?

A pattern of volcanoes around the pacific plate caused by convergent boundaries

What are hot spots?

Areas of especially hot magma rising up to the lithosphere