Physical Characteristics of the Earth Vocabulary Review

Front

Mantle

Back

the layer of hot, flowing rocks beneath Earth's crust

Front

Rotation

Back

the spinning of a planet or moon on its axis

Front

Axis

Back

an imaginary line running from the North Pole to the South Pole through the center of the Earth

Front

Core

Back

the center of the Earth, made of solid and liquid iron and nickel

Front

Atmosphere

Back

the pocket of air that surrounds the Earth

Front

Crust

Back

the solid rock that makes up the outer layer of Earth

Front

Lithosphere

Back

the rigid outer layer of the Earth, including the crust and upper mantle

Front

Asthenosphere

Back

the semi-fluid layer beneath the lithosphere that allows tectonic plates to move

Front

Tectonic Plates

Back

large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other

Front

Seismic Waves

Back

waves of energy that travel through the Earth, often caused by earthquakes