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Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonics 6 E 2.2
Term | Definition |
---|---|
lithosphere | Consists of all of the crust as well as the upper, rigid part of the mantle. |
tectonic plate | The broken up pieces of the lithosphere |
Continental Drift | hypothesis that the continents once formed a single land mass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations |
pangaea | the landmass that existed when all continents were joined |
sea floor spreading | process of new oceanic crust forming as magma rises toward the surface and solidifies |
subduction | occurs when 2 tectonic plates collide, and one plate moves under the other and sinks into the mantle |
Theory of Plate Tectonics | theory explaining how tectonic plates move and change shape |
plate boundaries | places where tectonic plates meet |
Convergent Boundary | boundary formed by collision of 2 plates |
divergent boundary | boundary between 2 plates moving away from each other |
transform boundary | boundary between 2 plates that are scraping past each other |