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Plate Tectonics
*7.10AB Plate Tectonics
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| theory | an explanation for why a phenomenon |
| hypothesis | an idea that can be tested by experimentation or investigation |
| law | description of a repeated pattern observed in nature, without an explanation for the pattern |
| continental drift | the idea that the continents were once fused together but slowly drifted apart over time |
| tectonic plates | more than a dozen distinct plates that make up Earth’s surface and slowly move in different directions |
| supercontinent | one giant continent into which most or all of the continents were assembled long ago |
| superposition | the condition of undisturbed sedimentary rock in which the oldest layer is at the bottom and the youngest layer is at the top |
| convection current | a type of thermal energy transfer in which differences in temperature and density of fluids make them rise and fall |
| convergent boundary | boundary where two tectonic plates move together, or converge |
| divergent boundary | boundary where two tectonic plates move away, or diverge, from one another |
| transform boundary | boundary where tectonic plates slide past each other in opposite directions |
| ocean basin | the area under ocean water |
| subduction | process in which a dense plate sinks under a less dense plate and melts in Earth’s mantle |
| fault | a break in the rock of Earth’s crust or mantle |
| earthquake | shaking and trembling that result from tectonic plate movement |
| seismic waves | vibrations that travel through Earth carrying energy |
| Richter scale | a rating of an earthquake’s magnitude, on a scale from 0-9, based on the size if its seismic waves |
| volcano | a structure that forms in Earth’s crust when molten material reaches Earth’s surface |
| magma | molten mixture of rock-forming substances, gases, and water from Earth’s mantle |
| lava | magma that has reached Earth’s surface |
| hot spot | area of the mantle where hot rock rises upward |
| supervolcano | structure that forms when magma rises into Earth’s crust but is trapped and can’t break through to the surface, causing pressure to build over time ad finally erupt |
| plate tectonic theory | theory that explains the movement of Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into large tectonic plates that interact at their boundaries, causing geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain formation |
| Pangaea | supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras |
| fossil record | crucial historical archive that documents the history of life on Earth through the remains or imprints of organisms preserved in sedimentary rock |
| index fossils | remains of organisms that lived during specific, relatively short geological time periods; used to date and correlate rock layers across different regions |
| continental crust | outermost layer of Earth's lithosphere, primarily composed of granitic rocks; forms the continents |
| oceanic crust | outermost layer of Earth's lithosphere beneath the ocean basins, primarily composed of dense rocks |
| mid-ocean ridge | underwater mountain range, typically having a valley known as a rift running along its axis, formed by plate tectonics |
| seafloor spreading | geological process where new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and gradually moves away from the ridge |
| rift valley | linear shaped lowland between several highlands or mountain ranges produced by the action of a geologic rift |
| mountain | elevated portion of the surface of a planet, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock |
| trench | type of depression in the ground that is usually deeper than wide, and narrow compared to its length |
| island arc volcano | chains of active volcanoes formed at convergent tectonic plate boundaries, primarily through subduction |
| ridge | long, narrow chain of hills or mountains |
Created by:
trauberk
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