Earth's Interior Vocabulary Flash cards

Front

The thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle

Back

Crust

Front

In Earth Science, the layer of rock between Earth's crust and core, 80% of Earth's volume

Back

Mantle

Front

The solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made up of mantle rock that flows very slowly, allowing tectonic plates to move on top of it

Back

Asthenosphere

Front

The solid, outer layer of the Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle; it is broken into plates

Back

Lithosphere

Front

Solid innermost part of the Earth's interior made up of solid iron and nickel

Back

Inner Core

Front

The lower boundary of the crust, separating the crust from the upper mantle; P and S wave speed increases because rock is more dense

Back

Moho

Front

Vibrations that travel through Earth after movement of plates along a plate boundary

Back

Seismic Wave

Front

The crust beneath the ocean; it is thinner, more dense, and made up of basalt

Back

Oceanic Crust

Front

The crust beneath the continents; it is thicker, less dense, and made up of granite

Back

Continental Crust

Front

The bending of earthquake waves as they pass from between layers of the Earth due to differences in density

Back

Refraction