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the thin and solic outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle
crust
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the layer of rock between the Earth's crust and core
mantle
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the central part of the Earth below the mantle
core
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the solid, outer layer of the Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle
lithosphere
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the soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move
asthenosphere
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the strong, lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core
mesosphere
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a block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle
tectonic plate
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the hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations
continental drift
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the process by which new oceanic lithosphere forms as magma rises towarad the surface and solidifies
sea-floor spreading
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the theory that explains how large pieces of the Earth's outermost layer, called tectonic plates, move and change shape
plate tectonics
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the boundary formed by the collision of two lithospheric plates
convergent boundary
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the boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other
divergent boundary
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the boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally
transform boundary
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stress that occurs when forces act to squeeze an object
compression
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stress that occurs when forces act to stretch an object
tension
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the bending of rock layers due to stress
folding
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a break in a body of rock along which one block slides relative to another
fault
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the rising of regions of the Earth's crust to higher elevations
uplift
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the sinking of regions of the Earth's crust to lower elevations
subsidence
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