Plates Boundaries & Layers

Front

What is a tectonic plate?

Back

A tectonic plate is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock that makes up the Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into several plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere.

Front

What are the three types of plate boundaries?

Back

The three types of plate boundaries are divergent boundaries (where plates move apart), convergent boundaries (where plates collide), and transform boundaries (where plates slide past each other).

Front

What is continental drift?

Back

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

Front

What evidence supports the theory of continental drift?

Back

Evidence includes fossil discoveries, geological similarities between continents, and the fit of continental coastlines.

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

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

Front

What is a convergent boundary?

Back

A convergent boundary is where two tectonic plates collide, leading to the formation of mountains, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.

Front

What is a divergent boundary?

Back

A divergent boundary is where two tectonic plates move away from each other, often creating new oceanic crust through volcanic activity.

Front

What is convection in the Earth's mantle?

Back

Convection in the Earth's mantle is the process by which hot, less dense material rises, while cooler, denser material sinks, creating a cycle that drives plate tectonics.

Front

What is the significance of the San Andreas Fault?

Back

The San Andreas Fault is a major transform fault in California that marks the boundary between the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate, known for its frequent earthquakes.

Front

What are glacier scars?

Back

Glacier scars are marks left on the Earth's surface by the movement of glaciers, indicating past glacial activity and climate conditions.