Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics

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What is Continental Drift?

Back

The theory that continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together in a single landmass.

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What is Plate Tectonics?

Back

The scientific theory that describes the large-scale movements of Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates.

Front

What is the inner core of the Earth?

Back

The innermost layer of the Earth, composed mainly of iron and nickel, and is solid due to immense pressure.

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What is the outer core?

Back

The layer of molten metal surrounding the inner core, responsible for Earth's magnetic field.

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What is the lithosphere?

Back

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

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What is the asthenosphere?

Back

A semi-fluid layer of the mantle on which tectonic plates float and move.

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What is convection?

Back

A type of heat transfer that occurs in fluids (liquids and gases) where warmer areas rise and cooler areas sink.

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What is the difference between oceanic and continental crust?

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Oceanic crust is thinner and denser, while continental crust is thicker and less dense.

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What is subduction?

Back

The process where one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the mantle.

Front

What is a tectonic plate?

Back

A massive slab of solid rock that makes up the Earth's lithosphere and moves over the asthenosphere.