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Plate Tectonics

Science

Plate Tectonics Chapter Video

Plate Tectonics Chapter Video

asthenosphere

the soft upper mantle layer under lithospheric plates
asthenosphere Simple Definition

continental drift

the hypothesis that all the continents are moving very slowly across Earth’s surface
continental drift Simple Definition

convection

the transfer of heat energy from a warmer area to a cooler area in a liquid or gas
convection Simple Definition

convection current

the movement pattern in a fluid caused by temperature differences within the fluid
convection current Simple Definition

convergent boundary

the boundary where two tectonic plates move towards each other
convergent boundary Simple Definition

core

the central part of the Earth, below the mantle
core Simple Definition

crust

the thin rocky outer layer of Earth, above the mantle
crust Simple Definition

divergent boundary

the boundary where two tectonic plates move away from each other
divergent boundary Simple Definition

fault

a break in Earth's crust along which rocks move
fault Simple Definition

inner core

the dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the Earth’s center
inner core Simple Definition

lithosphere

the rigid outer layer of Earth made up of the crust and upper mantle
lithosphere Simple Definition

mantle

the layer of rock between Earth's crust and core
mantle Simple Definition

mid ocean ridge

a long mountain range on the seafloor formed by lava eruptions through Earth’s crust
mid ocean ridge Simple Definition

ocean trench

a deep part of the seafloor where a subducting slab bends down
ocean trench Simple Definition

outer core

a layer of molten nickel and iron that surrounds Earth's inner core
outer core Simple Definition

pangaea

the supercontinent that broke up 200 million years ago into the continents we see today
pangaea Simple Definition

plate tectonics

the theory that Earth's crust is made of moving plates
plate tectonics Simple Definition

rift valley

a deep valley that forms as plates move apart
rift valley Simple Definition

seafloor spreading

the formation of new seafloor by magma at a mid-ocean ridge
seafloor spreading Simple Definition

seismic wave

an energy wave caused by an earthquake
seismic wave Simple Definition

subduction

a crust plate forced beneath another at a plate boundary
subduction Simple Definition

transform boundary

the boundary where two plates scrape past each other
transform boundary Simple Definition

uplift

any process that moves Earth's surface to a higher elevation
uplift Simple Definition

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