Continental Drift and Plate Tectonic Flashcard

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, made up of solid rock.

Front

What is the asthenosphere?

Back

The asthenosphere is the semi-fluid layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere, composed of hot, flexible rock that can flow.

Front

What is a convergent plate boundary?

Back

A convergent plate boundary is where two tectonic plates collide, often forming mountains or causing one plate to subduct beneath another.

Front

What is formed when two continental plates collide?

Back

When two continental plates collide, they can form mountains.

Front

What causes the movement of tectonic plates?

Back

The movement of tectonic plates is caused by convection currents in the asthenosphere.

Front

What is a divergent plate boundary?

Back

A divergent plate boundary is where two tectonic plates move apart, often creating new crust as magma rises to the surface.

Front

What is a transform plate boundary?

Back

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

Front

What is subduction?

Back

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

Front

What are volcanic islands?

Back

Volcanic islands are landforms created by volcanic activity, often resulting from the rising magma at convergent plate boundaries.

Front

What is the Moho discontinuity?

Back

The Moho discontinuity is the boundary between the Earth's crust and the underlying mantle.