Science 9 - EMR, Continental Drift, and Plate Tectonics

A set of vocabulary flashcards reviewing key terms regarding Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR), Continental Drift Theory, Philippine tectonic features, and types of tectonic plate boundaries.

Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)

Energy that travels through space as waves and does not require a material medium.

Radio waves

Electromagnetic waves useful for communication, such as radio/TV broadcasting and mobile-phone communication.

Microwaves

Electromagnetic waves used to transfer energy, commonly applied in microwave ovens, communication, and heating.

Infrared

Electromagnetic radiation associated with heat and thermal radiation.

Visible light

The part of electromagnetic radiation detected by human eyes that allows vision.

Ultraviolet (UV)

Electromagnetic radiation that can harm skin and damage cells or tissues when exposure is excessive.

X-rays

Electromagnetic waves useful for medical imaging and checking bones for fractures.

Gamma rays

Electromagnetic waves used in cancer treatment that can damage cells and tissues with excessive exposure.

Continental Drift Theory

The theory explaining that continents were not always in their present positions and have changed position over geologic time.

Pangaea

The ancient supercontinent that existed millions of years ago and later separated into the current continents.

Alfred Wegener

The scientist associated with proposing the Continental Drift Theory.

Matching continental shapes

Evidence for continental drift showing that coastlines, especially of South America and Africa, appear to fit together like puzzle pieces.

Fossil evidence

Evidence for continental drift where identical fossils found on continents now separated by oceans suggest those areas were once connected.

Matching rock formations

Evidence for continental drift where similar rock ages, composition, and structures indicate a shared geological history.

Active volcanoes

Geological features produced by processes associated with tectonic activity.

Earthquake zones

Concentrations of earthquakes that indicate active tectonic movement.

Faults

Fractures in rock where movement occurs, often marked by frequent earthquakes along an active zone.

Deep ocean trenches

Geological features indicating tectonic plate interaction, especially where one plate moves beneath another.

Philippine Trench and Philippine Fault

Named geological features in the Philippines provided as specific examples of tectonic activity evidence.

Plate boundary

An area where tectonic plates interact.

Convergent boundary

A plate boundary where tectonic plates move toward each other, causing collision, compression, subduction, uplift, mountains, and deep ocean trenches.

Divergent boundary

A plate boundary where tectonic plates move away from each other, allowing magma to rise and form new crust.

Transform boundary

A plate boundary where tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other, causing stress to build up and release as earthquakes.

Subduction

A process at a convergent boundary where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another.