Seafloor Spreading

Front

The process in which a denser plate is pushed beneath a less dense plate.

Back

Subduction

Front

Massive pieces of land that are part of Earth's crust and upper mantle

Back

Tectonic Plates

Front

The deepest parts of the ocean; long, narrow ditches

Back

Trenches

Front

A boundary formed when two plates move away from one another

Back

Divergent Boundary

Front

The rigid, outermost layer of Earth

Back

Lithosphere

Front

Scientists study the distribution of __________, rocks, and continental shapes.

Back

fossils, Fossils, fossil, Fossil

Front

Scientists study rock strata and shapes of continents to understand the movement of _______________.

Back

tectonic plates

Front

Tectonic processes continually create new ocean seafloor at _______________.

Back

Ridges, ridges, a ridge, ridge, Ridge

Front

When 2 tectonic plates pull apart, a __________ is formed on the ocean floor.

Back

mid-ocean ridge

Front

Old seafloor is destroyed at __________.

Back

trenches