Plate Motion Chapter 3

Front

What is plate motion?

Back

The movement of the Earth's lithospheric plates relative to each other.

Front

How do geologists observe plate motion?

Back

Geologists observe plate motion by comparing pictures of a location over time, noting that plates move slowly enough that their speed is measured using GPS.

Front

What was the position of continents 200 million years ago?

Back

The continents were all together in one giant continent called Pangaea.

Front

What happens to the mantle at divergent plate boundaries?

Back

The mantle rises and adds rock to the edges of the plates.

Front

What is a trench?

Back

A trench is a long, deep indentation in the ocean floor formed when two tectonic plates move together.

Front

What is a mid-ocean ridge?

Back

A mid-ocean ridge is an underwater mountain range formed when two tectonic plates move apart.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other.

Front

What is the theory of plate tectonics?

Back

The theory of plate tectonics explains how the Earth's plates move and interact, leading to geological phenomena like earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Front

What is subduction?

Back

Subduction is the process where one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the mantle.

Front

What are convergent boundaries?

Back

Convergent boundaries are areas where two tectonic plates move towards each other, often causing one plate to be forced beneath the other.