Ch. 3 Section 1 Earth Dynamics

Front

What is the outer core of the Earth?

Back

The outer core is a physical layer of the Earth that is liquid and composed mainly of iron and nickel. It lies beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core.

Front

What is the asthenosphere?

Back

The asthenosphere is a physical layer of the Earth located below the lithosphere, made of semi-solid rock that flows slowly. Tectonic plates move on top of this layer.

Front

What is a convergent boundary?

Back

A convergent boundary is a type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates move towards each other, often causing one plate to descend into the mantle beneath the other, leading to subduction.

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

The lithosphere is a physical layer of the Earth that includes the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle. It is rigid and broken into tectonic plates.

Front

What is the inner core of the Earth?

Back

The inner core is the solid, innermost layer of the Earth, composed mainly of iron and nickel, and is extremely hot and under high pressure.

Front

What is a transform fault boundary?

Back

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

Front

What is subduction?

Back

Subduction is the process by which one tectonic plate moves under another plate and sinks into the mantle, often leading to volcanic activity.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other, causing geological activity such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Front

What is the mantle?

Back

The mantle is a thick layer of the Earth located between the crust and the outer core, composed of semi-solid rock that flows slowly.

Front

What is the difference between the inner core and outer core?

Back

The inner core is solid and composed mainly of iron and nickel, while the outer core is liquid and also composed mainly of iron and nickel.