| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Crust | Is the outermost layer of the earth. There is the oceanic crust, and the continental crust. |
| Mantle | The mantle is the second layer or middle layer within the earth. Its composed of a putty like material. |
| Core | The core is at the center of the earth, and it is a fiery ball made up of magma. |
| Lithosphere | The lithosphere is the uppermost piece/part of the mantle and it is very hard and brittle. It makes up the tectonic plates. |
| Divergent Boundry | A divergent boundry is when two plates move apart which often forms new crust. |
| Transform Boundry | A transform boundry is when two plates move or rub against eachother which causes several earthquakes. |
| Sea Floor spreading | When and oceanic plate moves away from another plate magma surfaces and cools forming new oceanic crust. |
| Subduction | When one plate moves under another. Typically the oceanic plate will move under the continental plate because it is thinner and more dense. |
| Convergent boundry (oceanic/continental) | When an oceanic plate moves under a continental plate. When the oceanic plate is pushed under it is melted which forms volcanoes. |
| Convergent Boundry (ocean/ocean) | The slower of the two plates will often be pushed under the other. Becase one plate is being pushed under the other volcanoes are formed which often become islands. |
| Converget Boundry (continental/continental) | When the two plates come together mountain ranges form due to the folding and crumbling that occurs when they come together. |
| Normal Fault | A normal fault occurs when two plate diverge causing one of the plates to slide downwards. |
| Strike Slip fault | When two plate slide right against eachother. |
| Thrust Fault | When one plate is thrusted upwards. For instance when the oceanic plate and the continental plate come together the continental plate is thrusted upwards because it is less dense. |
| Asthenoshphere | The asthenoshphere is composed of magma and it has large convenctions. These convections cause the plates to move around due to growing pressure. |
| Hot Spot | A hot spot occurs when there is a weakness in the crust. This weakness remains in the same spot while the plates move about forming a chain of islands. |
| The Ring of Fire | The Ring of a fire is a ring of volcanoes around the pacific ocean that are located where plates are hitting and colliding. |
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