Physical Science: Continental Drift, Plate Tectonics, and Wave Properties

Vocabulary flashcards covering the continental drift theory, plate tectonics, fossil evidence, and geological structures from physical science notes.

Pangaea

The supercontinent formed by Earth's landmasses before breaking apart.

Panthalassa

The vast super ocean surrounding the supercontinent Pangaea.

Continental Drift Theory

The theory proposed in 1912 stating that Earth's landmasses once formed a supercontinent before breaking apart, continuously moving as oceanic crust is created and recycled.

Alfred Weaver

The German meteorologist who proposed the theory of continental drift in 1912.

Laurasia

One of the landmass divisions formed when the supercontinent Pangaea broke apart.

Gondwana

One of the landmass divisions formed when the supercontinent Pangaea broke apart.

Convection Current

The movement driven by differences in magma temperature that acts as the mechanism moving tectonic plates.

Diverge

A type of plate movement where tectonic plates move apart from each other.

Converge

A type of plate movement where tectonic plates collide with each other.

Transform

A type of plate movement where tectonic plates move side to side past one another.

Subduction

The process where one tectonic plate moves down under another plate due to a difference in mass.

Obduction

An upward plate movement that occurs during an asynchronous act when colliding plates have the same mass.

Jigsaw Fit

Evidence for continental drift based on how coastlines, such as the eastern coastline of South America and the west coast of Africa, fit together like puzzle pieces.

Mesosaurus

A small freshwater reptile fossil found on separated continents, serving as evidence for continental drift because it could not swim across vast salty oceans.

Glossopteris

A flora (plant) fossil found across separated continents, proving these landmasses were once joined in a shared southern region of Pangaea.

Cynognathus

A prehistoric reptile (fauna) fossil used as evidence to support continental drift.

Lystrosaurus

A prehistoric reptile fossil found across separated landmasses, supporting continental drift.

Tectonic Plates

Enormous sections of Earth's outer shell that slowly drift over the planet's mantle.

Trench

The deepest subduction zone formed during plate convergence.

Ophiolite

An abducted subduction plate section.

Basaltic Rock

The denser rock type that makes up oceanic crust.

Andesitic Magma

High viscosity lava associated with explosive volcanism at convergent subduction zones.

Metamorphic Rocks

Rocks formed as a bi-product of convergence that originate from the mantle.

Topographical Evidence

Evidence of plate boundaries derived from physical features and landforms.

Geological Evidence

Evidence of continental connection based on identical rock layers, mountain belts, and earthquake events.