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Earth's layers
4 layers and crust components
Question | Answer |
---|---|
crust | the thin, outer layer of Earth is called its crust |
mantle | a very thick layer of Earth found under the crust |
inner core | the center of the Earth which is very hot and solid. It is 1,250 km thick. |
outer core | the layer of theEarth made of very hot liquid iron and nickel. It is 2,200 km thick. |
lithosphere | consists of the crust and the upper part of the mantle |
asthenosphere | the lower part of the Earth's mantle and consists of partially molten rock |
tectonic plates | approximately 12 plates that make up the surface of the Earth and are always moving |
convection currents | hot mantle material rises to the top, cools & drops down again creating a continuous circular motion |
seismic waves | shock waves in solid rock generated by earthquakes or underground explosions |
continental crust | the part of the crust that includes continents |
oceanic crust | the crust that includes the ocean floors |
convergent boundary | a tectonic (plate) boundary where two plates are moving toward each other. |
divergent boundary | a tectonic (plate) boundary where two plates are moving away from each other |
transform boundary | a tectonic boundary when two plates grind past each other as they move in opposite directions |
sea floor spreading | the process n which liquid rock rises and becomes solid as two tectonic plates move farther apart |
med ocean ridge | a series of mountain ranges on the ocean floor |
Pangea | a "super continent" that existed 200 million years ago that broke apart and moved to form the seven continents that exist today. |
subduction | one edge of a plate is forced below another |
continental drift | the movement and re-formation of continents resulting from the movement of plates |