Earth's Tectonic Plates and Currents

Front

What are the cracked segments of earth called?

Back

Plate tectonics are the large, rigid pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other.

Front

What are the two kinds of crust?

Back

The two kinds of crust are continental crust and oceanic crust.

Front

What is the outermost rock layer of Earth made up of?

Back

The lithosphere is the outermost rock layer of Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost mantle.

Front

What type of currents move around the tectonic plates?

Back

Convection currents are the currents that move around the tectonic plates, driven by heat from the Earth's interior.

Front

What does erosion expose?

Back

Erosion exposes rocks that were once deeply buried beneath the surface.

Front

What is the definition of tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are massive slabs of solid rock that make up the Earth's lithosphere.

Front

What is the difference between continental crust and oceanic crust?

Back

Continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust, which is thinner and denser.

Front

What is the role of the asthenosphere in plate tectonics?

Back

The asthenosphere is a semi-fluid layer beneath the lithosphere that allows tectonic plates to move.

Front

What causes convection currents in the Earth's mantle?

Back

Convection currents are caused by the heat from the Earth's core, which creates movement in the mantle.

Front

What is subduction?

Back

Subduction is the process where one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the mantle.