Structure of the Earth

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Created by: Max Oscar
Created on: 30-03-22 18:07

What is a Tectonic Plate?

Large area of crust floating on the mantle

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What force moves tectonic plates?

Convection Currents

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What is Subduction?

The process of 1 plate sinking beneath another at a convergent plate boundary

Denser oceanic plate subducts under less dense continental plate

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What are Convection Currents?

Heat energy that moves tectonic plates

Are caused by Earth's internal heat created by radioactive isotopes (e.g. uranium) in the Earth's core & mantle which generates huge amounts of heat that slowly flow towards the earth's surface

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What are the different layers of the Earth?

Crust
Asthenosphere
Mantle
Outer core
Inner core

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What is the Crust?

Outer layer of the Earth
Made of large pieces of solid rock (i.e. plates - either continental OR oceanic) that float on the mantle

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What is the Lithosphere?

Is the crust AND upper mantle
About 70km deep

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What is the Asthenosphere?

The upper layer of the Earth's mantle (below the lithosphere)
Convection occurs here

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What is the Mantle?

Makes up 82% of the volume of the Earth
Made up of semi-molten rock (i.e. magma)

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What is the Outer Core?

Extremely hot
It is liquid
It is made out of Iron & Nickel

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What is the Inner Core?

Hottest part of the Earth (5000°C)
It is solid
Made out of Iron & Nickel

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What are the Types of Tectonic Plates?

- Continental plates
- Oceanic plates

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Continental plates are:

Thick (30-70km thick)
Less dense (lighter)
Main rock type: Granite

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Oceanic plates are:

Thin (only 5-11km thick)
Dense (heavy)
Main rock type: Basalt

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What force moves tectonic plates?

Back

Convection Currents

Card 3

Front

What is Subduction?

Back

Card 4

Front

What are Convection Currents?

Back

Card 5

Front

What are the different layers of the Earth?

Back

View more cards

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Structure of the Earth