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