Ch. 17 and 19 Vocab

The hypothesis that states the Earth's continents were joined as single landmass; Wegener

• continental drift

• Pangaea

• tectonic plate

The Earth's magnetic field changes polarity during

• a magnetic reversal

• a magnetic shift

• the aurora borealis

Tectonic plates that move horizontally against each other.

• convergent

• divergent

• transform

Device used to map the ocean floor; detects small changes in magnetic fields

• sonar

• magnetometer

• seismometer

The long narrow depression that forms when continental crust begins to separate at a divergent boundary.

• fault

• rille

• rift valley

The huge pieces of crust and rigid upper mantle that fit together at their edges.

• tectonic plates

• continents

• sea floor

The vibrations of the ground during an earthquake.

• slab pull

• ridge push

• seismic wave

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Occurs when the nucleus of an atom is unstable and spontaneously emits energy in the form of radiation; causes uneven heating in Earth's lithosphere.

• radioactive isotope

• radioactive element

• radioactive decay

This is prodced by the electric currents generated by the flow of molten iron in the outer core.

• magnetic field

• earthquakes

• volcanic eruptions

Occurs when tectonic plates move away from each other.

• convergence

• divergence