Earth Layers

Front

Describes the large scale motions of earth's lithosphere

Back

theory of tectonic plates

Front

The outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle, approximately 100 km thick

Back

lithosphere

Front

A hard, dense, dark volcanic rock

Back

basalt

Front

The outermost, solid part of the earth

Back

crust

Front

A thick mass of igneous rock which lies under the ocean floor

Back

oceanic plates

Front

Any one of the internally rigid crustal blocks of the lithosphere which move horizontally across the earth's surface relative to one another

Back

tectonic plates

Front

The movement, formation, or re-formation of continents described by the theory of plate tectonics

Back

continental drift

Front

The central part of the earth's core

Back

inner core

Front

The upper zone of the earth's core

Back

outer core

Front

The layer of the earth between the crust and the core

Back

mantle