8th Grade Science Category 3&4 Vocabulary

the large landmass that broke apart into the present 7 continents

• Pangaea
• North America
• South America
• Antartica

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Theory stating that Earth's crust is broken into pieces "plates" that float atop the molten mantle

• Theory of Plate Tectonics
• Theory of Floating Plates
• Theory of Broken Plates

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

idea that the Earth's continents are constantly moving in different directions

• continental drift
• continental shift
• continental motion

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

the action of the ocean floor spreading apart due to a divergent boundary

• sea floor spreading
• sea floor divergent
• sea floor action

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

the circulation of a liquid or gas where hot rises and cool sinks

• convection currents
• hot air rising
• cool air sinking
• air circulation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

the area where two tectonic plates meet

• tectonic plate boundary
• tectonic plate meeting
• tectonic plate border

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

the type of boundary where two tectonic plates collide forming volcanoes, mountains, and subduction

• convergent boundary
• divergent boundary
• transform boundary

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

the type of boundary where two tectonic plates move away from each other forming mid ocean ridges, sea floor spreading or rift valleys.

• convergent boundary
• divergent  boundary
• transform boundary

the type of boundary where two tectonic plates slide past each other forming faults and causing earthquakes

• convergent boundary
• divergent boundary
• transform boundary

the landform caused by a divergent boundary where the land between two plates sinks forming a valley.

• rift valley
• river valley
• sea floor spreading
• mid ocean ridge