Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Inside the Earth
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| crust | the outermost least dense layer of the Earth |
| mantle | the layer of rock between the Earth's crust and core |
| core | the central part of the Earth below the mantle |
| inner core | made of solid iron and nickel |
| outer core | made of molten iron and nickel--liquid |
| lithosphere | the solid, outer layer of the Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle |
| asthenosphere | the soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move/float on |
| tectonic plates | a block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and rigid upper mantle |
| continental drift | the hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations |
| Pangea | super continent that existed 245 million years ago |
| seafloor spreading | the process by which new oceanic crust forms as magma rises toward the surface and solidifies as the tectonic plates pull apart |
| plate tectonics | the theory that explains how large pieces of the Earth's outermost layer move and change shape |
| convergent boundary | the boundary formed when two plates move together |
| divergent boundary | the boundary formed when two plates pull apart |
| transform boundary | the boundary between plates that are sliding past each other |
| lava | molten rock on the surface |
| magma | molten rock inside the Earth |
| hot spot | a volcanically active area of Earth's surface far from a plate boundary |
| mid-ocean ridge | mountain chains on the ocean floor; plates are pulling apart and melted rock rises through the crack forming new crust |
| plate boundary | places where tectonic plates meet |
| subduction zone | where oceanic crust and continental crust collide; oceanic crust is more dense and sinks under the continental crust |
| fault | the crack that forms when rocks break and move past each other |
| uplift | parts of Earth's crust rise to higher elevations |
| seismic wave | When an earthquake occurs, energy is given off. This energy travels through the earth in the form of waves. |
| magma chamber | a body of magma beneath a volcano |
| Ring of Fire | a concentrated area around the Pacific Ocean where most of Earth's active volcanoes are located |
| continental crust | the outermost layer of Earth's lithosphere that forms nearly all of Earth's land surface: composed of different types of granite |
| oceanic crust | the outermost layer of Earth's lithosphere that is found under the oceans; it is thinner, denser, younger than continental crust; is mostly composed of different types of basalt |
| convection currents | Heated magma rises from deep inside the mantle, while cooler magma sinks, creating a convection current; this type of current is responsible for the movements of the plates of Earth's crust |
Created by:
jaguarscience
Popular Earth Science sets