Plate Tectonics

Front

What is Plate Tectonics?

Back

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

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

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

Front

What is oceanic crust?

Back

The part of the Earth's crust that underlies the ocean, which is thinner and denser than continental crust.

Front

What is continental crust?

Back

The part of the Earth's crust that forms the continents, which is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust.

Front

What is subduction?

Back

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

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

A type of plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally.

Front

What is a convergent boundary?

Back

A type of plate boundary where two plates collide, often forming mountains or causing subduction.

Front

What is a divergent boundary?

Back

A type of plate boundary where two plates move away from each other, often creating new crust.

Front

What causes plate movement?

Back

Plate movement is primarily caused by convection currents in the mantle.

Front

What is a fault?

Back

A fracture in the Earth's crust where blocks of rock have moved past each other.