Plate Tectonics Vocabulary

The lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move on top of the asthenosphere.

• Continental Drift

• Plate Tectonic Theory

• Sea Floor Spreading

• Pangaea

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Theory that new oceanic crust is formed along mid-ocean ridges and is gradually pushed away from the ridge

• Continental Drift

• Plate Tectonic Theory

• Sea Floor Spreading

• Pangaea

Theory that the continents are slowly moving and changing their positions relative to one another

• Continental Drift

• Plate Tectonic Theory

• Sea Floor Spreading

• Pangaea

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Large, ancient landmass that was composed of all the continents joined together

• Continental Drift

• Plate Tectonic Theory

• Sea Floor Spreading

• Pangaea

Rigid, outermost layer of the crust.

• Tectonic Plate

• Lithosphere

• Asthenosphere

• Continental Crust

A solid, thin outermost layer of Earth where the continents are located.

• Tectonic Plate

• Lithosphere

• Asthenosphere

• Continental Crust

Sections of the Earth's crust that move due to convection currents.

• Tectonic Plate

• Lithosphere

• Asthenosphere

• Continental Crust

The upper layer of the mantle that has plasticity and is below the lithosphere.

• Tectonic Plate

• Lithosphere

• Asthenosphere

• Continental Crust

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

• Oceanic Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core

earth's crust located under the ocean

• Oceanic Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core