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Earth's Crust
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Crust | Earth’s outermost layer |
Mantle | The layer directly beneath Earth’s crust |
Core | Earth’s innermost layer |
Lithosphere | The cool, solid portion of Earth that includes all of the crust and a part of the upper mantle |
Asthenosphere | A zone of partially melted rock in the upper mantle of the earth |
Plate tectonics | The theory scientists use to explain the movement of plates on the earth’s surface |
Divergent boundary | A boundary where crustal plates move away from each other |
Convergent boundary | A boundary where plates collide with each other |
Transform fault boundary | A boundary where crustal plates grind past each other |
Mid-ocean ridge | The place where plates of earths crust along the ocean floor are being split and molten rock pushes up to form a new ocean floor and mountain ranges |
Rift | A deep ocean valley formed where two crustal plates move apart |
Sea-floor spreading | A process in which magma is slowly pushed up through cracks in a rift and then cools to form a new seafloor |