Tectonic plate (Noun)
The pieces of the Earth’s
crust that float on the mantle,
causing continental drift and
earthquakes and creating
volcanoes, trenches, and
mountains.
“The Earth’s crust is divided
into tectonic plates that move
away, into, and around each
other.
Plate tectonics (Noun)
The movement of the
Earth’s tectonic plates.
“Convergent, divergent, and
transform boundaries are
forms of plate tectonics.”
Oceanic crust/plate (Noun)
The part of the Earth’s
crust found
underneath oceans.
“The larger the ocean,
the larger the oceanic
crust under it.”
Continental crust/plate (Noun)
A tectonic plate that
carries a continent.
“Convergent
boundaries at
continental plates
create mountains.”
Continent (Noun)
A large piece of land.
“The Earth is divided
into seven main
continents.”
Continental drift (Noun)
The movement of
continental plates.
“Continental drift is
the reason why
Pangaea once
existed.”
Crust (Noun)
The outermost (first)
layer of a planet. Usually
composed of rock and is
above the mantle.
“The earth’s crust is
measured to be 40 km.”
Mantle (Noun)
The layer of the Earth
between the crust and core
made of hot, semi-solid rock.
“The Earth’s mantle is
divided into the upper (under
crust) and lower (above
core) sections.”
Core (Noun)
The center of the Earth,
composed of nickel and
iron. The inner core is
solid while the outer is
liquid.
“Scientists have yet to
reach the core of the
Earth.”
Layer (Noun)
The different parts of our
planet: crust, upper and
lower mantle, and outer and
inner core.
“The Earth has three main
layers.”
Divergent boundary (Noun)
When two or more
plates pull away from
each other.
“Rifts are created by
divergent
boundaries.”
Diverge (Verb)
When two or more tectonic
plates move apart from
each other.
“When plates diverge, they
can create a mid-oceanic
ridge.”
Mid-oceanic ridge (Noun)
An underwater mountain
range created by
convection currents at
divergent boundaries.
“There is a large midoceanic ridge in the middle
of the Atlantic Ocean.”
Rift (Noun)
A gap created by
divergent
boundaries.
“A rift is made by two
continental plates
moving apart from
each other.”
Transform boundary (Noun)
When two or more plates
grind against each other,
also called a strike-slip
boundary.
“Strong earthquakes are
caused by transform
boundaries.”
Transform (Verb)
When two or more
tectonic plates grind
against each other.
“When tectonic plates
transform,
earthquakes and
tsunamis can occur.”
Grind (Verb)
To rub against
something.
“Tectonic plates grind
when they are at
convergent and
transform boundaries.”
Earthquake (Noun)
Wild and unexpected
shaking of the ground
caused by plate tectonics or
volcanic eruptions.
“Nepal experienced a strong
earthquake recently.”
Epicenter (Noun)
The place on the crust
above the exact point
where an earthquake
occurred.
“The epicenter of an
earthquake experiences the
most damage.”
Tremble (Verb)
To shake.
“The ground and
buildings tremble
during earthquakes.”
Magnitude (Noun)
The size or strength of an
earthquake using the
Richter scale as measured
by a seismograph.
“The recent Nepal
earthquake had a
magnitude of 7.8.”
Tsunami (Noun)
A large oceanic wave that
moves quickly and is
created by an underwater
earthquake or plate
tectonics.
“Japan was hit by a large
tsunami in 2011.”
Convergent boundary (Noun)
When two or more
plates collide into
each other.
“Trenches are made by
convergent
boundaries.”
Converge (Verb)
When two or more
tectonic plates move
towards each other.
“When plates
converge mountains
can be created.”
Subduct (Verb)
When a tectonic plate
moves under another
tectonic plate and create a
subduction zone.
“Tectonic plates subduct at
convergent boundaries.”
Subduction zone (Noun)
A place between two
plates at a convergent
boundary where one plate
is being pushed into the
mantle.
“Trenches can be found at
subduction zones.”
Trench (Noun)
A long, narrow
opening underneath
the ocean.
“Subduction zones
create trenches.”
Volcano (Noun)
A mountain or hill formed
by plate tectonics that has
an opening that releases
lava, rock fragments, hot
vapor, ash, and gas.
“When a volcano erupts, it
affects the weather and the
organisms living near it.
Volcanic ash (Noun)
Rock fragments, dust, and
other materials released by
a volcano during an
eruption.
“During an eruption,
volcanic ash can affect the
weather of an area.”
Magma (Noun)
Crust that has been melted
into a liquid by the heat of
the mantle.
“Before lava leaves a
volcano, it is called magma.”
Lava (Noun)
Hot, liquid rock
released by
volcanoes.
“When a volcano
erupts, it oozes lava.”
Erupt (Verb)
When a volcano
releases lava, ash,
gas, and other
materials.
“It is unsafe to be near
a volcano when it
erupts.”
Explosion (Noun)
The quick spread of
energy from a
source.
“When a volcano
erupts, it causes a big
and loud explosion.”
Fossil (Noun)
Evidence of a past
organism preserved and
able to be studied.
“Scientists study fossils to
learn about how and
where organisms lived
before.”
Geologic time scale (Noun)
System used by
scientists to organize
events in the Earth’s
history.
“Each section of the
geologic time scale lasts
millions of years.”
Eon (Noun)
A period of time that lasts
hundreds of millions to
billions of years.
“The Earth has only had
four eons thus far.”
Era/Period/Epoch (Noun)
Units of geologic time that
have a relative (estimated)
length which depend on
the geologic changes that
occur in that time.
“Their length of time from
longest to shortest: era,
period, and epoch.
Stratigraphy (Noun)
The study of rock layers
and their fossils.
“Scientists use
stratigraphy to map
fossils and events on the
geologic time scale.”
Stratum/Strata (Noun)
A layer of rock.
“Strata of rock are
older the deeper you
explore into the Earth.
Radiometric dating (Noun)
A method that uses
radioactive isotopes to
calculate the age of a
fossil.
“Scientists use
radiometric dating to
determine the exact time a
fossil lived.”