Front

What is Plate Tectonics?

Back

The theory that explains the structure and movement of Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other, causing geological phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Front

What is a mid-ocean ridge?

Back

An underwater mountain range formed by plate tectonics, where new oceanic crust is created as tectonic plates pull apart.

Front

What is continental drift?

Back

The hypothesis that continents have moved over geological time from a single supercontinent to their current locations.

Front

What is Pangaea?

Back

A supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, where all continents were joined together.

Front

What causes tectonic plates to move?

Back

Convection currents in the mantle, driven by heat from the Earth's core, cause the movement of tectonic plates.

Front

What is the significance of fossil evidence in plate tectonics?

Back

Fossils of similar species found on different continents support the idea that continents were once connected.

Front

What is the role of convection currents in the mantle?

Back

Convection currents are the movement of molten rock in the mantle that creates a cycle of rising and sinking material, driving plate movements.

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

A type of plate boundary where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally, often causing earthquakes.

Front

What is a divergent boundary?

Back

A plate boundary where two tectonic plates move away from each other, leading to the formation of new crust.