Plate Tectonics - TCI Planet Earth Lesson 3

Front

What type of boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other?

Back

Divergent boundary: This is where two plates separate, allowing magma to rise and create new crust.

Front

What are the two types of crust?

Back

Continental and oceanic crust: Continental crust is thicker and less dense, while oceanic crust is thinner and denser.

Front

What fossil did Wegener use to support his hypothesis of continental drift?

Back

Glossopteris: A plant fossil found on multiple continents, suggesting they were once connected.

Front

At what type of boundary does a trench form?

Back

Convergent boundary: This is where two plates collide, often leading to the formation of deep ocean trenches.

Front

What is the process called when hot molten rock rises, cools, and sinks back to the core?

Back

Convection: This process drives the movement of tectonic plates.

Front

What is the theory that explains the movement of Earth's plates?

Back

Plate tectonics: A scientific theory that describes the large-scale motion of Earth's lithosphere.

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

A transform boundary is where two plates slide past each other horizontally, causing earthquakes.

Front

What is continental drift?

Back

Continental drift is the hypothesis that continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together.

Front

What is subduction?

Back

Subduction is the process where one tectonic plate moves under another, often leading to volcanic activity.

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.