Plate Tectonics and Earth's Layers Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering the layers of Earth and key concepts in plate tectonics.

Outer core

A layer of liquid molten metals (iron and nickel)

convergent

A plate motion where 2 plates move towards each other.

magnetic field

This is created by the outer core which is made of molten iron and nickel.

Inner Core

A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of Earth

plates

A rigid block of crust and upper mantle.

Plate tectonics

The theory that the earth is broken into plates and are in motion due to movement from the upper mantle.

mid-oceanic ridge

Happens as a result of the plates moving apart and is found under the oceans.

Volcanoes, earthquakes and mountains

These are formed due to movement at plate boundaries

oceanic crust

Earth's crust located under the ocean.

transform

A plate motion where 2 plates slide past each other. This movement causes earthquakes.

continental crust

The part of the earth's crust that forms the continents.

Pangea

The super continent that used to exist on Earth and is evidence of plate movements.

Mantle

This layer is the thickest layer. It is beneath the crust and filled with molten rock.

magma

Molten rock from the Earth's Mantle.

plate boundary

The place where two plates meet and move relative to each other.

divergent

A plate motion where 2 plates move away from each other and result in new crust forming.

Crust

The layer of rock that forms Earth's outer surface. Usually rigid and rocky. We stand on this.