Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics Flashcard Review

Front

What is the mantle?

Back

The mantle is the layer of Earth located between the crust and the outer core, where convection currents that move tectonic plates occur.

Front

Why was Wegener's theory of continental drift not accepted?

Back

Wegener's theory was not accepted because he had no proof of how the continents were moving.

Front

What causes convection currents in the asthenosphere?

Back

Convection currents in the asthenosphere are caused by differences in density and temperature.

Front

What is Pangaea?

Back

Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed in Earth's distant past, where all continents were joined together.

Front

What is slab pull?

Back

Slab pull is the process where the force of subduction and gravity moves a lithospheric plate downward into a trench and pulls it away from a ridge.

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

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

Front

What is sea floor spreading?

Back

Sea floor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and older crust is pushed away.

Front

What is subduction?

Back

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

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other.

Front

What is the theory of plate tectonics?

Back

The theory of plate tectonics explains how the Earth's plates move and interact, leading to geological phenomena like earthquakes and volcanoes.