science Earth's layers vocab

asthenosphere

solid layer w plasticity in the upper mantle located below lithosphere, lithospheric plates "float and mover here

convection current

circular movement of fluids caused by the rising of hotter less dense fluid and falling of cooler denser fluid

convergent boundary

place where two tectonic plates move toward each other and collide

core

two part layer of Earth below the Mantle w a liquid outer core and solid inner core

crust

thin solid outermost layer of Earth either continential or oceanic

divergent boundary

where two tectonic plates move away from each other

energy

ability of a system to do work required for changes to happen within a system

lithosphere

cool rigid outermost layer of Earth that consists of the crust and uppermost part of the Mantle, broken into pieces or segments called plates

magnetic field

area around a magnet or moving electrical charge that can exert a magnetic force

mantle

solid layer of Earth between the Crust and core made of dense siliciates

plasticity

characteristic of the material in asthenosphere, existing in a solid state having the ability to flow

plate boundary

place where two different plates have contact

rift valley

trench formed between highlands on a divergent boundary where plates separate

seafloor spreading

phenomenon by which magma from Earth's mantle comes up at the mid ocean ridges and creates new oceanic crust

seismic waves

waves of energy that travel through earth and are the result of an earthquake volcano or explosion

subduction

process in which a denser plate is pushed down beneath a less dense plate when plate converge

tectonic plate

huge piece of crust that slowly moves on the upper ductile part of the mantle

transform boundary

place where two tectonic plates slide past each other