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Unit 07 25-26
Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Continental Drift | The idea that continents have slowly moved over Earth’s surface over millions of years |
| Pangaea | A supercontinent made of all Earth’s landmasses connected as one 300 million years ago |
| Plate Tectonics | The theory that Earth’s crust is broken into plates that move across the mantle |
| Tectonic Plates | Pieces of Earth’s lithosphere that move around due to mantle convection |
| Lithosphere | The rigid outer layer of Earth made of the crust and upper mantle |
| Asthenosphere | A semi-molten, flexible layer of the mantle that tectonic plates move on |
| Convection Currents | The circular movement of heated rock in the mantle that moves tectonic plates |
| Mid-Ocean Ridge | An underwater mountain chain where seafloor spreading occurs |
| Sea-Floor Spreading | The formation of new ocean crust as magma rises at mid-ocean ridges |
| Fossil Evidence | Similar plant or animal fossils found on different continents supporting continental drift |
| Rock and Mountain Evidence | Matching rock types and mountain ranges on continents now separated by oceans |
| Boundary | The location where two tectonic plates meet |
| Divergent Boundary | Where two tectonic plates move away from each other |
| Convergent Boundary | Where two tectonic plates move toward each other |
| Transform Boundary | Where two plates slide past one another horizontally |
| Subduction | When one tectonic plate sinks beneath another back into the mantle |
| Rift Valley | A long valley formed where plates move apart on land |
| Earthquake | A sudden shaking of the ground caused by plates moving at faults |
| Volcano | A mountain-like opening where magma reaches Earth’s surface |
| Hot Spot | A place where magma rises through the crust far from plate boundaries |
| Mantle | The thick layer beneath the crust made of hot semi-solid rock |
| Crust | Earth’s outermost solid layer of rock |
| Oceanic Crust | Thinner and denser crust located under the oceans |
| Continental Crust | Thicker and less dense crust that forms continents |
| Fault | A crack in Earth’s crust where movement has occurred |
| Magnetic Striping | Patterns of magnetic minerals in ocean rock showing seafloor spreading |
| Geological Evidence | Rock or mineral data used to support scientific conclusions about Earth’s history |
| Theory | A scientific explanation supported by strong evidence, not merely a guess |
| Trench | A deep ocean canyon formed when one plate is subducted beneath another |
| Ring of Fire | A region around the Pacific Ocean with many volcanoes and earthquakes caused by active tectonics |
| Alfred Wegener | The scientist who proposed the theory of continental drift and the existence of Pangaea |
| Harry Hess | The scientist who proposed sea-floor spreading, providing evidence for plate tectonics |
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LMS 7 Sci
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