Earth's Structure
On the Crust
Movers . . .
and Shakers
Volcanoes
100
3 major sections of the interior of the earth
What is the crust, the mantle, and the core?
100
The process that causes rocks to gradually break or crumble into smaller pieces
What is weathering?
100
Large sections of the earth's crust that "float" on the soft rock of the upper mantle and slowly move about.
What are plates?
100
The break that appears at the boundary between two moving masses of rock
What is a fault?
100
Melted rock (it is lighter than solid rock)
What is magma?
200
A thick layer of sand and mineral fragments
What is sediment?
200
This takes place when rock is broken down by water, ice or windblown sand.
What is physical weathering?
200
The term used to describe the underwater mountain ranges where plates of the earth's crust are moving away from each other
What are mid-oceanic ridges?
200
The point under the ground where an earthquake begins
What is the focus point?
200
The large reservoir formed when magma squeezes its way upward through the crust and yet may be a few miles beneath the surface.
What is a magma chamber?
300
The study of the structure of the earth
What is geology?
300
The small particles of rock and decomposed plant and animals that make up this essential element for all plant life
What is soil?
300
Any trembling or shaking of the earth's crust
What is an earthquake?
300
The strength of an earthquake
What is magnitude?
300
As pressure builds, trapped gases blast through this opening of the earth's surface.
What is a vent?
400
Along with pressure, this also increases with depth (the deeper you go toward the center of the earth)
What is the temperature?
400
This occurs when natural acids slowly eat into a rock and break it apart
What is chemical weathering?
400
Giant waves that may be caused by earthquakes?
What are tsunamis?
400
The regions of the earth's crust where most earthquake faults are found
What are seismic belts?
400
After reaching the earth's surface, molten rock is called this
What is lava?
500
The boundary between the crust and the mantle
What is Moho (or Mohorovicic discontinuity)?
500
This is produced by mosses and lichens clinging to a rock
What are acids?
500
The study of earthquakes
What is seismology?
500
Most earthquakes occur in this region
What is the Circum-Pacific Belt?
500
The belt of volcanoes that encircles the Pacific Ocean
What is the Ring of Fire?
M
e
n
u