Changing Earth Flashcard

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Large, solid slabs of rock that move independently on top of the Earth's mantle.

Front

What is the theory of Continental Drift?

Back

A scientific theory that Earth's continents slowly move over time.

Front

What is a supercontinent?

Back

A landmass made up of most or all of Earth's land.

Front

Was all the land on Earth ever connected?

Back

True, at one point in time, all the land on Earth was connected.

Front

Has North America always been a separate continent?

Back

False, North America has not always been a single continent separate from others.

Front

What is the Earth's mantle?

Back

The layer of the Earth located between the crust and the outer core, composed of semi-solid rock.

Front

What is plate tectonics?

Back

The scientific theory that explains the movement of the Earth's plates and the processes that occur at their boundaries.

Front

What are the three types of plate boundaries?

Back

Divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.

Front

What happens at divergent boundaries?

Back

Plates move apart, creating new crust as magma rises to the surface.

Front

What occurs at convergent boundaries?

Back

Plates collide, leading to subduction or mountain formation.