| Term | Definition |
|---|
| crust | the thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle |
| mantle | the layer of rock between the Earth's crust and core |
| core | the central part of the Earth below the mantle |
| lithosphere | the solid, outer layer of the Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle |
| asthenosphere | the soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move |
| mesosphere | the strong, lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core |
| outer core | the liquid layer of the Earth's core that lies beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core |
| inner core | the solid, dense center of our planet that extends from the bottom of the outer core to the center of the Earth |
| tectonic plate | a block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle |
| seismic waves | vibrations in the Earth caused by earthquakes |
| continental drift | the hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations |
| sea-floor spreading | the process by which new oceanic lithosphere forms as magma rises toward the surface and solidifies |
| mid-ocean ridge | underwater mountain chain where sea-floor spreading is taking place |
| plate tectonics | the theory that explains how large pieces of the Earth's outermost layer, called tectonic plates, move and change shape |
| convergent boundary | the boundary formed by the collision of two lithospheric plates |
| divergent boundary | the boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other |
| transform boundary | the boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally |
| compression | stress that occurs when forces act to squeeze an object |
| tension | stress that occurs when forces act to stretch an object |
| folding | the bending of rock layers due to stress |
| anticline | upward-arching fold in rock layer |
| syncline | downward, troughlike fold in rock layer |
| deformation | the process by which the shape of a rock changes because of stress |
| fault | a break in a body of rock in which one block slides relative to another |
| fault blocks | the blocks of crust on each side of a fault |
| normal fault | the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall |
| reverse fault | the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall |
| strike-slip fault | the blocks on each side of a fault move horizontally |
| uplift | the rising of regions of the Earth's crust to higher elevations |
| subsidence | the sinking of regions of the Earth's crust to lower elevations |
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