Theories
An idea that is used to explain observed facts
What is a Theory
An opening in earth’s crust through which hot gases, rock fragments and molten rock erupt
What is Volcano
The solid center of the core, made mostly of iron
What is the Inner Core
A scale of numbers used to measure the strength of an earthquake
What is a Richter Scale
The sections of the crust that move (in cm/ year) over the earth, according to the plate tectonic theory
What are Plates
According to the continental drift theory, a super-continent that existed about 200 million years ago
What is Pangea
The hot molten rock deep inside the earth, held in a chamber
What is Magma
The middle layer of the earth, the thick layer of rock between the crust and the core. The layer makes up most of the earth’s mass.
What is the Mantle
These waves only move through solids
These waves are generally larger than the other waves, causing much of the damage in an earthquake.
What are Secondary (S) waves
Formed when plates come together (collide) A folded mountain can be created when this happens (ex.Alps & Himalayas)
What are Convergent Plate Boundaries
The theory that the crust of the earth is made up of sections, called plates, that are in motion
What is Plate Tectonic Theory
Formed by lava that flows easily.
Many of the largest volcanoes on Earth are this type of volcano.
The largest is Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii (all the volcanoes in the Hawaiian Islands are this type of volcanoes.)
What is a Shield Volcano
All the water on the earth
What is the Hydrosphere
These waves travel faster than the other waves and can travel through any kind of material, whether it is a solid, liquid or gas.
What are Primary (P) waves
Formed when plates divide (move apart; separate)
Ex. the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
What are Divergent Plate Boundaries
The theory that the continents were once part of a single landmass that broke up and then drifted apart
What is Continental Drift
Volcanoes made from a series of eruptions over thousands of years, alternating layers of lava, ash, cinders and pyroclastic material. Some have only one vent, but most have several vents.
Mount St. Helens in Washington and Mount Vesuvius in Italy are examples
What is a Composite Volcano (Stratovolcano)
The layer of air surrounding the earth
What is the Atmosphere
An instrument used to measure the location & strength of an earthquake
Also can be used to map the interior of the Earth
(how fast the waves travel depends on the density of the layer they travel through)
What is a Seismograph
Formed when plates slide past each other
(ex. San Andreas Fault)
What are Transform Plate Boundaries
Evidence of this theory is similar fossils and rock formations found on different continents & puzzle-like appearance
What is Continental Drift
Formed by violent eruptions that blow out chunks of lava that solidify instantly upon being ejected and form rubble. The rubble forms a cone-shaped mound.
Mt. Pelée is an example.
What is a Cinder Cone Volcano
Inner Core, Outer Core, Mesosphere, Asthenosphere and Lithosphere
What are the five physical layers of the earth
The scale used to measure the amount of damage that occurs during an earthquake
What is the Mercalli Scale
How tectonic plates move, caused by hot magma rising, cooling and sinking
What are Convection Currents