Study Guide for Retake Flashcard - Earth's Movement - Unit 2

Front

What is mantle convection?

Back

Mantle convection is the process by which heat from the Earth's interior causes the mantle to flow, leading to the movement of tectonic plates.

Front

What is slab pull?

Back

Slab pull is a tectonic process that occurs when a denser oceanic plate sinks into the mantle at a subduction zone, pulling the rest of the plate along with it.

Front

What is the difference between oceanic crust and continental crust?

Back

Oceanic crust is denser and thinner than continental crust, which is less dense and thicker.

Front

What is Pangaea?

Back

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

Front

What drives the movement of tectonic plates?

Back

The movement of tectonic plates is primarily driven by mantle convection and slab pull.

Front

What is the Earth's crust?

Back

The Earth's crust is the outermost layer of the Earth, consisting of solid rock and is divided into oceanic and continental crust.

Front

What is the significance of plate tectonics?

Back

Plate tectonics explains the movement of the Earth's plates and is responsible for geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain building.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries, causing geological activity.

Front

What is continental drift?

Back

Continental drift is the theory that continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together as a single landmass.

Front

What is a subduction zone?

Back

A subduction zone is an area where one tectonic plate is being forced under another, often leading to volcanic activity.