Plate Tectonics Vocab

Front

Hypothesis suggesting continents are in constant motion.

Back

Continental Drift Hypothesis

Front

Naturally preserved remains, imprints, or traces of organisms.

Back

Fossils

Front

Middle layer of Earth between crust and core.

Back

Mantle

Front

Supercontinent of today's continents.

Back

Pangaea

Front

Event where magnetic field reverses direction.

Back

Magnetic Reversal

Front

Mountain range on the ocean floor.

Back

Mid-ocean Ridge

Front

Today's magnetic field orientation points to NORTH.

Back

Normal Polarity

Front

Magnets point SOUTH:

Back

Reversed Polarity

Front

Process of new oceanic crust forming at mid-ocean ridges as old crust moves away.

Back

Seafloor Spreading

Front

Circulation of material due to temperature and density differences.

Back

Convection