RE-FLASHCARD: Plate Tectonics

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What is the African Plate?

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The African Plate is a major tectonic plate straddling the equator as well as the prime meridian, covering parts of Africa, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean.

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What is the South American Plate?

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The South American Plate is a tectonic plate that includes the continent of South America and extends eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

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What is the Antarctic Plate?

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The Antarctic Plate is a tectonic plate that includes the continent of Antarctica and extends outward under the surrounding oceans.

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What is a tectonic plate?

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A tectonic plate is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock that makes up the Earth's lithosphere.

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What are the three main types of plate boundaries?

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The three main types of plate boundaries are divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.

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What happens at a divergent boundary?

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At a divergent boundary, tectonic plates move away from each other, leading to the formation of new crust, often seen at mid-ocean ridges.

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What happens at a convergent boundary?

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At a convergent boundary, tectonic plates move towards each other, which can cause one plate to be forced beneath another, leading to mountain formation or earthquakes.

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What happens at a transform boundary?

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At a transform boundary, tectonic plates slide past one another horizontally, which can cause earthquakes.

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What is the significance of the Himalayas?

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The Himalayas were formed by the collision of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate at a convergent boundary.

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What is an example of a divergent boundary?

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An example of a divergent boundary is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian Plate and North American Plate are moving apart.