Geologic Processes Vocabulary Review

The layer of rock that forms Earth's outer surface.

• crust

• mantle

• asthenosphere

• inner core

A rigid layer made up of the uppermost part of the mantle and the crust.

• lithosphere

• asthenosphere

• outer core

• inner core

The layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core.

• mantle

• crust

• outer core

• inner core

The soft layer of the mantle on which the lithosphere floats.

• asthenosphere

• lithosphere

• crust

• outer core

A layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth

• outer core

• asthenosphere

• crust

• lithosphere

A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of Earth

• inner core

• outer core

• asthenosphere

• lithosphere

The name of the single landmass that broke apart 200 million years ago and gave rise to today's continents

• Pangaea

• continental drift

• tectonic plate

• plate tectonics

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations

• continental drift

• tectonic plate

• asthenosphere

• rock cycle

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The theory that pieces of Earth's lithosphere are in constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle.

• plate tectonics

• continental drift

• transform boundary

• rock cycle

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle.

• tectonic plate

• crust

• rock cycle

• igneous rock