Geological Features and Tectonic Plates Flashcard

Front

What is continental drift?

Back

The theory that continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together in a single landmass.

Front

What evidence supports the theory of continental drift?

Back

Fossils of the same plants and animals found in different continents, such as Africa and South America.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Large sections of the Earth's crust that move and interact with each other.

Front

Where do most earthquakes occur?

Back

Most earthquakes occur where Earth's tectonic plates are sliding past each other.

Front

What is a subduction boundary?

Back

A tectonic plate boundary where one plate sinks beneath another, often leading to volcanic activity.

Front

Why does oceanic crust sink beneath continental crust?

Back

Because oceanic crust is denser than continental crust.

Front

What is plate tectonics?

Back

A scientific theory that explains the movement of the Earth's plates and the associated geological phenomena.

Front

What are convection currents?

Back

Movements within the Earth's mantle that drive the motion of tectonic plates.

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

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

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

A tectonic plate boundary where plates slide past each other horizontally.