Earth's Interior
What is the crust?
This is the outermost layer of Earth where we live.
What are tectonic plates?
Earth's crust is broken into these large moving pieces.
What is an earthquake?
A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement of Earth's plates.
What is climate change?
The long-term warming of Earth's average temperature.
What is magma?
Molten rock beneath Earth's surface.
What is the mantle?
This layer lies beneath the crust and is made of hot, semi-solid rock.
What is a divergent boundary?
This type of plate boundary occurs when plates move apart.
What is a hurricane?
A rotating storm with extremely strong winds that forms over warm ocean water.
What is carbon dioxide (CO₂)?
This gas is released when fossil fuels are burned and contributes significantly to global warming.
What is lava?
Molten rock that reaches Earth's surface.
What is the inner core?
Earth's hottest layer is composed mainly of iron and nickel.
What is a convergent boundary?
Mountains often form at this type of boundary where plates collide.
What is a volcanic eruption?
This natural disaster occurs when molten rock erupts onto Earth's surface.
What is the greenhouse effect?
This effect traps heat in Earth's atmosphere.
What is the focus?
The point inside Earth where an earthquake begins.
What is the outer core?
This liquid layer surrounds the inner core and helps create Earth's magnetic field.
What is a transform boundary?
At this boundary, plates slide past each other horizontally.
What is a tsunami?
A giant ocean wave usually caused by an underwater earthquake.
What is sea level rise?
Melting glaciers and expanding seawater contribute to this global issue.
What is the epicenter?
The point on Earth's surface directly above an earthquake's focus
What are seismic waves?
Scientists study these vibrations from earthquakes to learn about Earth's interior.
What is plate tectonics?
This theory explains how continents move over Earth's surface.
What is the Richter Scale? (or Moment Magnitude Scale)
This scale measures the magnitude of earthquakes.
What are greenhouse gas emissions?
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind can help reduce these emissions.
What are convection currents?
The slow movement of mantle material that drives plate motion