Plate Tectonics

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What is a fossil?

Back

A fossil is any trace of an ancient organism that has been preserved in rock.

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What are faults?

Back

Faults are breaks in Earth's crust where rocks have slipped past each other.

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What is a convergent plate boundary?

Back

A convergent plate boundary is where two tectonic plates move toward each other.

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What is the theory of plate tectonics?

Back

The theory of plate tectonics states that pieces of Earth's plates are in constant, slow motion, driven by convection currents.

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What causes the movement of Earth's plates?

Back

The movement of Earth's plates is caused by convection currents in the mantle.

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What is a transform plate boundary?

Back

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

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What is a divergent plate boundary?

Back

A divergent plate boundary is where two tectonic plates move away from each other.

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What are convection currents?

Back

Convection currents are movements within the mantle caused by the heat from the Earth's core, driving plate tectonics.

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What is continental drift?

Back

Continental drift is the theory that continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together.

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What are tectonic plates?

Back

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