Plate Tectonics and Earth Structure Flashcards

Flashcards about Plate Tectonics and Earth's Structure

Convection Currents

The driving force behind plate tectonics, creating divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries.

Divergent Boundary

A plate boundary where plates move apart.

Convergent Boundary

A plate boundary where plates collide.

Transform Boundary

A plate boundary where plates slide past each other horizontally.

Crust

The outermost layer of the Earth, above the mantle.

Mantle

The layer of the Earth beneath the crust and above the outer core.

Outer Core

The liquid layer of the Earth beneath the mantle and above the inner core.

Inner Core

The solid, innermost layer of the Earth.

Continental Crust

The part of the crust that makes up continents.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Subduction Zone

The zone where one plate descends beneath another.

Magma

Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface.

Asthenosphere

The partially molten layer of the Earth beneath the lithosphere.

Convection Current

The movement of magma due to heating and cooling within the Earth.

Continent

One of the seven large landmasses on Earth.

Plate

A large section of the Earth's lithosphere that moves and interacts with other plates.