Plate Tectonics Vocabulary

Front

What is the process by which oceanic crust sinks beneath a deep-ocean trench and back into the mantle?

Back

Subduction

Front

What is a section of the lithosphere that slowly moves over the asthenosphere called?

Back

Plate

Front

What is the solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and rigid upper part of the mantle?

Back

Lithosphere

Front

What is the dense center of the Earth made up of the solid inner core and the molten outer core?

Back

Core

Front

What is the movement of a fluid caused by differences in temperature that transfers heat from one part of the fluid to another?

Back

Convection Current

Front

What is the term for the theory that explains the movement of the Earth's plates?

Back

Plate Tectonics

Front

What is the layer of the Earth located beneath the lithosphere, which is semi-fluid and allows for plate movement?

Back

Asthenosphere

Front

What is the process by which new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges?

Back

Sea-floor spreading

Front

What is the boundary where two tectonic plates move away from each other?

Back

Divergent boundary

Front

What is the boundary where two tectonic plates collide?

Back

Convergent boundary