Earth's Geosystem and Plate Tectonics

Vocabulary flashcards covering the Earth's four spheres, internal layers, and the mechanisms of plate tectonics.

System

A set of interrelated parts that make up a unified whole.

Atmosphere

The part of the Earth system composed of air.

Geosphere

The part of the Earth system composed of solid Earth.

Biosphere

The part of the Earth system composed of organisms.

Hydrosphere

The part of the Earth system composed of water.

Earth's Layers

The $4$ concentric layers consisting of the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.

Crust and Mantle

The outer two layers of the Earth composed primarily of rocky material.

Inner and Outer Core

The innermost layers of the Earth composed mostly of iron and nickel.

Thermal Energy

The heat energy from inside the Earth that causes plate movements and the movement of material within the Earth.

Plates

Large continent-size pieces that move slowly about Earth's surface.

Faults

The boundaries of plates where most earthquakes and volcanoes are located.

Convergent boundaries

Plate boundaries where plates move toward each other.

Divergent boundaries

Plate boundaries where plates move apart from each other.

Transform boundaries

Plate boundaries where plates slip past each other horizontally.