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Plate Tectonics-6th
6th Grade Plate Tectonics
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Tectonic plates | pieces of the lithosphere consisting of oceanic and continental crust |
Lithosphere | Physical layer of Earth; consists of the crust and upper mantle; rigid, makes up tectonic plates |
Asthenosphere | Upper mantle; plastic (solid magma that flows) |
Inner Core | Solid, dense ball of iron and nickel |
Outer Core | Liquid ball of iron and nickel |
Crust | Compositional layer of Earth; outermost layer, thin, rigid |
Mantle | Makes up 66% of Earth's mass (compositional layer) |
Pangaea | All continents used to be connected in a supercontinent called Pangaea. |
Sea-floor spreading | the process by which new oceanic lithosphere (sea floor) forms (magma rises to Earth's surface and solidifies at mid ocean ridges) |
Continental drift | Wegener's idea that continents used to be connected but have since drifted apart |
Convection | Hot magma rising and cool magma sinking constantly in the asthenosphere *** Causes the lithosphere to move*** |
Convergent boundary | When tectonic plates collide (may form mountains, volcanoes) |
Divergent boundary | When tectonic plates divide (may form mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys) |
Transform boundary | When tectonic plates slide past each other (causes earthquakes) |
Stress | Amount of force per unit area that is place on an object |
Shear | Type of stress that pushes rock in different directions |
Tension | Type of stress that pulls rock apart |
Compression | Type of stress that pushes rock together |
Subduction | When a more dense tectonic plate is pulled beneath another tectonic plate; occurs at convergent boundaries |
Hot spots | a volcanically active area of Earth's crust that is NOT near a tectonic plate |
Deformation | Rocks changing shape due to stress |
Rift zone | an area of deep cracks that forms at a divergent boundary |
Explosive eruption | Volcanic eruption that produces gas, ash, and pyroclastic material (very destructive) |
Nonexplosive eruption | Volcanic eruption that produces lava flows |
Boundary | area where two tectonic plates meet |
Sea floor spreading provided evidence to support what theory? | Continental drift |
Where do most earthquakes and volcanoes occur? | Tectonic plate boundaries |
Fault | a break in Earth's crust |