Plate Tectonics

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other.

Front

What causes earthquakes?

Back

Earthquakes occur when two tectonic plates slide past each other.

Front

What is mantle convection?

Back

The process by which heat from the Earth's interior causes the mantle to circulate, driving the movement of tectonic plates.

Front

What is continental drift?

Back

The theory that continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together.

Front

What is sea-floor spreading?

Back

The process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and older crust is pushed away.

Front

What is ridge push?

Back

A tectonic process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where the elevated position of the ridge causes tectonic plates to move away from it.

Front

What is slab pull?

Back

The force exerted by a sinking tectonic plate that pulls the rest of the plate along with it.

Front

What is a hot spot?

Back

An area in the mantle where heat causes magma to rise and create volcanoes, independent of tectonic plate boundaries.

Front

How do tectonic plates move?

Back

Tectonic plates move due to convection currents in the mantle.

Front

What happens when tectonic plates collide?

Back

They can create mountains, earthquakes, or volcanic activity depending on the type of plates involved.