Plate Tectonics #2 (Flashcard Review)

Front

What is a fault?

Back

A fault is a break in the Earth's crust along which rocks move.

Front

Why was the Continental drift theory not well received originally?

Back

Wegener could not explain what caused the continents to move.

Front

What is Pangea?

Back

Pangea was a supercontinent that existed millions of years ago, where all continents were joined together.

Front

What happens at a transform fault boundary?

Back

At a transform fault boundary, tectonic plates slip past each other.

Front

What is oceanic crust?

Back

Oceanic crust is dense, thin, and made of basalt.

Front

What is continental crust?

Back

Continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust, primarily made of granite.

Front

What is the theory of plate tectonics?

Back

The theory of plate tectonics explains how the Earth's plates move and interact, causing earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountains.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other.

Front

What is a convergent boundary?

Back

A convergent boundary is where two tectonic plates move toward each other, often causing one plate to be forced beneath the other.

Front

What is a divergent boundary?

Back

A divergent boundary is where two tectonic plates move apart from each other, leading to the formation of new crust.