Earth and Beyond Key terms CIE Checkpoint

Tectonic plate

A large piece of Earth's crust that moves slowly over the mantle.

Continent

A large landmass on Earth, like Africa or Europe.

Crust

The thin, outer layer of the Earth where we live.

Mantle

The thick layer beneath the crust, made of hot rock.

Core

The centre of the Earth, made of very hot metal.

Convection Currents (mantle)

The circular movement of liquid in the mantle caused by heat from the core. These causes tectonic plates to move.

Earthquake

A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement of tectonic plates.

Volcano

A mountain that can erupt with lava, ash, and gases.

Plate Boundary

The edge where two tectonic plates meet.

Alignment

When things are lined up in a straight line or pattern.

Magnetic

Can attract certain metals, like iron.

Fossil record

All the fossils ever found, showing how life has changed over time.

Fault

A crack in the Earth's crust where movement can happen.

Convergent boundary.

Where two tectonic plates move toward each other.

Divergent boundary

Where two tectonic plates move away from each other.

Collision theory

The idea that the Moon was formed when a planet-sized object hit Earth.

Impact

When one object hits another with force.

Debris

Broken pieces left after something is destroyed.

Coalesce

To come together and form one thing.

Nebulae

Huge clouds of gas and dust in space where stars are born.

Stellar

Related to stars.

Asteroid

A small rocky object that orbits the Sun, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.