Plate Tectonics

Front

What is directly below the Earth's crust?

Back

The Mantle

Front

What explains why Africa is closer to Europe now than it was before?

Back

Africa and Europe are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved toward each other as one plate went under the other plate into soft, solid rock over millions of years.

Front

What happens if Mr. Girdner takes a 4 hour nap between two converging tectonic plates?

Back

Nothing because it will take millions of years for them to move enough to squish him.

Front

Which type of boundary do plates move away from each other?

Back

Divergent

Front

Why do the tectonic plates move?

Back

Convection Currents

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other.

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Front

What is a convergent boundary?

Back

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates collide or move toward each other.

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally.

Front

What are convection currents?

Back

The movement of fluid caused by differences in temperature and density, driving plate tectonics.