Plate Boundaries
Originally called "Continental Drift", this process is one of the main reasons that the Earth's surface has changed so much over time.
What is plate tectonics?
The uppermost (and least dense) layer of the Earth.
What is the crust?
The scientific word we use to describe how much "stuff" (or how many particles) is in an object or substance.
What is mass?
The San Andreas Fault (a transform plate boundary) is famous for this type of geologic hazard.
What are earthquakes?
This category of volcano is formed in the middle of tectonic plates due to the presence of mantle plumes.
What are Hot Spots?
A geologic feature characterized by higher elevation and new, hot oceanic crust in the middle of the ocean.
What is a Mid-Ocean Ridge?
The layer of the Earth that is partway between a solid and a liquid -- convection happens here, but very slowly.
What is the mantle?
The scientific word for how much space something takes up.
What is volume?
The West Coast is not only home to mountains -- it's also home to this explosive natural hazard, resulting from the subduction zone that formed the Cascades range.
What are volcanoes?
This type of glowing home decor can be used to illustrate how density is affected by temperature.
What is a lava lamp?
The process that occurs when a supercontinent breaks apart
What is continental rifting?
If cooled, this layer of the Earth would be bright green!
The scientific word for the relationship between mass and volume (how much stuff is in a specific amount of space).
What is density?
This watery geologic hazard is also associated with subduction zones and strong earthquakes.
What is a tsunami?
This type of scientific tool (used to better understand things that we can't observe directly) can be visual, mathematical, or computer-based.
What is a scientific model?
This type of plate boundary is characterized by tall mountains and lots of earthquakes, but no volcanoes.
What is continental collision (or convergence)?
The innermost layer of the Earth, made of solid iron and nickel.
What is the inner core?
What is temperature?
The main hazard associated with effusive volcanic eruptions.
What are lava flows?
This rock type is formed from cooling molten lava or magma.
What are igneous rocks?
A region where one plate is pushed underneath another, characterized by volcanic eruptions and strong earthquakes.
What is a subduction zone?
The layer of the Earth that generates its magnetic field, made of molten metal.
What is the outer core?
The type of crust that is the least dense (remember our pool inflatable analogy!).
What is continental crust?
What are pyroclastic flows?
This is Ms. Horne's favorite color.
What is green?