7.10B Tectonic Plates Vocabulary

Front

What is a divergent boundary?

Back

A boundary where two tectonic plates move away from each other.

Front

What is a convergent boundary?

Back

A boundary where two tectonic plates move together or converge.

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

A boundary where tectonic plates slide past each other in opposite directions.

Front

What is a convection current?

Back

A type of thermal energy transfer in which differences in temperature and density of fluids cause them to rise and fall.

Front

What happens at a divergent boundary?

Back

New crust is formed as magma rises to the surface.

Front

What geological features are commonly found at convergent boundaries?

Back

Mountains, deep ocean trenches, and volcanic arcs.

Front

What is the primary cause of tectonic plate movement?

Back

Convection currents in the Earth's mantle.

Front

How do transform boundaries affect the Earth's surface?

Back

They can cause earthquakes as plates slide past each other.

Front

What is subduction?

Back

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

Front

What is the Ring of Fire?

Back

A region in the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur due to tectonic plate boundaries.