Earth's Layers
This is the outermost layer of the Earth where humans live and build structures.
What is the crust?
This type of boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other.
What is a divergent boundary?
The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
What is the epicenter?
This type of volcano has gently sloping sides and erupts with low-viscosity lava.
What is a shield volcano?
This process involves the breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces by physical or chemical means.
What is weathering?
This layer of the Earth lies directly beneath the crust and is composed of semi-solid rock.
What is the mantle?
At this type of boundary, two tectonic plates collide, often forming mountains.
What is a convergent boundary?
This scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake
What is the Richter scale?
This term describes a volcano that has not erupted in a long time but may erupt again.
What is a dormant volcano?
This type of weathering occurs when rocks are broken down by physical forces such as freezing and thawing.
What is mechanical weathering?
The Earth's core is divided into two parts: the outer core and this extremely hot, solid part.
What is the inner core?
This boundary is characterized by two tectonic plates sliding past each other horizontally.
What is a transform boundary?
These seismic waves are the fastest and travel through both solids and liquids.
What are primary waves (P-waves)?
These small, steeply sloped volcanoes are formed from ash and cinders.
What are cinder cone volcanoes?
This process involves the movement of sediment from one place to another by wind, water, or ice.
What is erosion?
This phenomenon occurs when molten rock from the mantle erupts through the Earth's crust.
What is a volcanic eruption?
The Ring of Fire is known for its frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity and is located in this ocean.
What is the Pacific Ocean?
This type of wave causes the most damage during an earthquake and moves in a rolling motion.
What are surface waves?
The eruption of this Indonesian volcano in 1883 was one of the most violent in recorded history.
What is Krakatoa?
This type of erosion occurs when wind removes loose, fine particles from the surface.
What is deflation?
This term describes the theory that Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move.
What is plate tectonics?
This famous fault line in California is an example of a transform boundary.
: What is the San Andreas Fault?
This instrument records the vibrations caused by seismic waves during an earthquake.
What is a seismograph?
This supervolcano located in the United States is known for its massive caldera.
What is Yellowstone?
This term describes the process by which plants break down rocks with their roots.
What is biological weathering?