Earth's Layers and Plate Tectonics Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering Earth's internal layers, plate boundaries, and tectonic theories based on lecture review material.

Crust

The layer of Earth that is the thinnest and least dense.

Crust

The layer of Earth that we live on.

Inner Core

The layer of Earth made of solid iron and nickel.

Inner Core

The hottest and innermost layer of Earth.

Outer Core

The layer of Earth made up of liquid iron and nickel.

Mantle

The layer of Earth made of molten rock that has convection currents.

Seafloor Spreading

A process caused by volcanic activity that creates new ocean crust.

Divergent Boundary

Plates that are moving away from each other.

Convergent Boundary

Plates that are moving towards each other.

Transform Boundary

Plates that slide past each other.

Theory of Plate Tectonics

The idea that the Earth is broken into large blocks of crust and rock which move slowly on top of hot magma.

Continental Drift Theory

An early theory by Alfred Wegner stating that continents were once one large landmass that slowly moved apart.

Convergent Boundary

Transform Boundary

Divergent Boundary

Crust

Mantle

Outer Core

Inner Core