Plate Tectonics

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, divided into tectonic plates.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large pieces of the lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries.

Front

What is a plate boundary zone?

Back

A plate boundary zone is an area where more than two tectonic plates interact in various ways.

Front

What are mid-oceanic ridges?

Back

Mid-oceanic ridges are underwater mountain ranges formed by diverging tectonic plates, where convection currents in the mantle cause the plates to move apart.

Front

What evidence did Wegener use to support the theory of continental drift?

Back

Wegener used evidence such as the shape of continents, similar fossils found on separate continents, and tree fossils found in unusual locations.

Front

What are convection currents?

Back

Convection currents are the circular movements of molten rock in the mantle caused by heat from the Earth's core, driving tectonic plate movement.

Front

What is a subduction zone?

Back

A subduction zone is a region where one tectonic plate is being forced under another, often leading to volcanic activity.

Front

What are seismic waves?

Back

Seismic waves are waves of energy that travel through the Earth, used by scientists to study the Earth's internal structure.

Front

What is the asthenosphere?

Back

The asthenosphere is the semi-fluid layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere, allowing tectonic plates to move.

Front

What is continental drift?

Back

Continental drift is the theory that continents have moved over geological time from a common supercontinent.