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Earth Science — Plate Tectonics

Basics of plate tectonics and geological processes

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geo_shift_sam 15 terms Dec 30, 2025
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Terms 15

1
Tectonic Plates
Large pieces of Earth's lithosphere that move on the mantle
2
Convergent Boundary
Plates collide; causes mountains, volcanoes, or subduction
3
Divergent Boundary
Plates move apart; new crust forms; mid-ocean ridges
4
Transform Boundary
Plates slide past each other; causes earthquakes; e.g. San Andreas Fault
5
Subduction
Denser oceanic plate sinks beneath continental plate
6
Seafloor Spreading
New oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges as plates diverge
7
Pangaea
Supercontinent that existed ~300 million years ago before breaking apart
8
Lithosphere
Rigid outer layer of Earth consisting of crust and upper mantle
9
Asthenosphere
Semi-fluid upper mantle layer on which tectonic plates float
10
Volcanic Arc
Chain of volcanoes formed above a subducting plate
11
Richter Scale
Logarithmic scale measuring earthquake magnitude
12
Seismic Wave
Energy wave produced by earthquakes traveling through Earth
13
Fault
Fracture in Earth's crust where blocks of rock have moved
14
Ring of Fire
Pacific rim zone of high earthquake and volcanic activity
15
Continental Drift
Wegener's theory that continents have moved over geologic time