Restless Earth

The hypothesis that a single large landmass broke up into smaller landmasses to form the continents, which then drifted to their present locations; the movement of continents.

• plate tectonics

• continental drift

• convection current

• sea-floor spreading

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The theory that Earth’s outer layer is made up of large, moving pieces.

• plate tectonics

• continental drift

• convection current

• sea-floor spreading

The process by which new oceanic lithosphere (sea floor) forms when magma rises to Earth's surface; older, existing sea floor moves away from the ridge.

• plate tectonics

• continental drift

• convection current

• sea-floor spreading

The process by which one plate moves beneath another plate as a result of tectonic forces.

• subduction

• sea-floor spreading

• convection current

• plate boundary

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Where two tectonic plates meet.

• subduction

• sea-floor spreading

• convection current

• plate boundary

The boundary between tectonic plates that are colliding.

• convergent boundary

• divergent boundary

• transform boundary

The boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other.

• convergent boundary

• divergent boundary

• transform boundary

The boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally.

• convergent boundary

• divergent boundary

• transform boundary

An area of deep cracks that forms between two tectonic plates that are pulling away from each other.

• rift

• volcano

• epicenter

• earthquake

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A movement or trembling of the ground that is caused by a sudden release of energy when rocks along a fault move.

• rift

• volcano

• epicenter

• earthquake