Chapter 10

isostasy

the equilibrium between continental crust and the denser mantle below it

subsidence

the downward vertical motion of earths surface

uplift

the upward vertical motion of earths surface

compression

squeezing stress

tension

stress that pulls apart something

shear

parallel forces acting in opposite directions

strain

a change in the shape of rock caused by stress

ocean trench

deep, underwater troughs created by an oceanic plate subducting under another plate at a convergent plate boundary

volcanic arc

a curved line of volcanoes that form parallel to a plate boundary

transform faults

blocks of crust slide horizontally past eachother

fault zone

an area of many fractured pieces of crust along a large fault

folded mountain

made of layers of rocks that are folded

fault block mountain

parallel ridges that form where blocks of crust move up or down along faults

plains

an extensive area of level or rolling land

basins

areas of subsidence and regions with low elevations

plateaus

flat regions with high elevations