Earth: Plate Boundaries

Front

What is the Earth's crust?

Back

The Earth's crust is the outermost layer of the Earth, consisting of many oceanic and continental plates that move slowly.

Front

What is a boundary in geology?

Back

A boundary is the edges or lines in between tectonic plates.

Front

What causes a volcano to erupt?

Back

A volcano erupts when the magma rises and the gases create a lot of pressure at the surface.

Front

How do ocean floors and land surfaces differ?

Back

Ocean plates are thin and dense, while land surfaces are thick and less dense.

Front

What happens when two continental plates converge?

Back

When two continental plates converge, they build mountains.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

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

Front

What is the difference between oceanic and continental plates?

Back

Oceanic plates are thinner and denser than continental plates, which are thicker and less dense.

Front

What is subduction?

Back

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

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

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

Front

What is a divergent boundary?

Back

A divergent boundary is where two tectonic plates move away from each other, often creating new crust.