click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Inside Earth 1:5
Ch.1. sec.5 Theory of plate tectonics
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Plate | A slab of Earth's lithosphere that can move around on the planets surface |
scientific theory | A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations about a particular scientific question. |
plate tectonics | The the theory that states that pieces of Earth’s lithosphere are in constant, slow motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle. |
fault | A break in Earth's lithosphere where one block of rock moves toward, away from, or past another. |
transform boundary | Two plates sliding horizontally past each other |
divergent boundary | Place where two of Earth's tectonic plates are moving apart |
rift valley | a deep valley that forms when two plates drift apart |
convergent boundary | a boundary between lithospheric plates where the plates move toward one another and one plate is recycled into the mantle |