Stemscopedia Plate Tectonics and Vocab

Occurs when two tectonic plates slide past each other.

• Transform boundary

• Antarctic plate

• Convergent boundary

• Density of plates

Event in which molten rock spews out from the mantle to the surface of Earth as ash, lava, and gases; major geological event that occurs when a dense plate subducts below a less dense plate.

• Volcanic eruption

• African plate

• Ocean basin

• Divergent boundary

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

The soft layer of the mantle on which the lithosphere floats

• Crust

• Mantle

• Mesosphere

• Asthenosphere

The thin and solid outermost layer of the earth above the mantle

• Mantle

• Core

• Crust

• Lithosphere

The rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle

• lithosphere

• asthenosphere

• mesosphere

• round sphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The strong, lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core

• Asthenosphere

• Outer core

• Lithosphere

• Mesosphere

What process drives the movement of tectonic plates?

• Convection currents in the mantle

• Traction forces in the lithosphere

• The interaction of the continents

• Movements of the oceans

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What is the approximate speed at which tectonic plates move?

• 1 centimeter per year

• 1 meter per year

• 1 kilometer per year

• 10 kilometers per year

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What is the main evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics?

• The presence of similar fossils in different continents

• The existence of plate boundaries and zones of seismic and volcanic activity

• The observation of the drift of the continents

• The analysis of the age and type of rocks in the oceans.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What type of current helps drive the movement of tectonic plates?

• Convection currents

• Ocean currents

• Air currents

• Seismic currents