Plate Tectonics and Boundaries

This collection of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to plate tectonics, including different types of plate boundaries and geological features.

Destructive Plate Boundary

A type of boundary where one plate is pushed into the mantle and melted, leading to the formation of magma and explosive volcanoes.

Subduction

The process where the oceanic crust sinks below the continental crust due to its higher density.

Igneous Rock

Rock that forms when molten rock from volcanoes cools and solidifies.

Constructive Plate Boundary

A type of boundary where plates move apart, allowing molten rock from below to surface and often forming new rock.

Mid-Ocean Ridge

An underwater mountain range where constructive plate boundaries can lead to the formation of new islands.

Conservative Plate Boundary

A boundary where plates slide past each other, generating powerful earthquakes without the formation of volcanoes.

San Andreas Fault

An example of a conservative plate boundary located in California where significant earthquake activity occurs.

Seismic Waves

Waves of energy that travel through the Earth's layers, often generated by earthquakes.