8.9AB Plate Tectonics

Front

What is Plate Tectonics?

Back

The theory that explains the structure and movement of Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Large, rigid pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries.

Front

What is a convergent plate boundary?

Back

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

Front

What is a divergent plate boundary?

Back

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

Front

What is a transform plate boundary?

Back

A boundary where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally.

Front

What is the significance of the Himalayan mountains in plate tectonics?

Back

They were formed by the collision of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, illustrating a convergent boundary.

Front

What was Pangea?

Back

A supercontinent that existed around 200 million years ago, where all continents were joined together.

Front

What is a mid-ocean ridge?

Back

An underwater mountain range formed by plate tectonics at divergent boundaries.

Front

What geological features are formed at convergent boundaries?

Back

Mountains, deep ocean trenches, and volcanic arcs.

Front

What geological features are formed at divergent boundaries?

Back

Mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.