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Tectonic Plates MS-ESS2-2

NGSS

continental drift

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

convergent boundary

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

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

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

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