The Structure of the Earth

Created by: Aidan Crowley
Created on: 28-04-13 16:57

The Lithosphere

The outer layer of the earth is called the lithosphere. This is a relatively cold and rigid, and comprises the crust and top part of the mantle. It is made of tectonic plates which are less dense the the mantle below. We can not drill through it.

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Earthquakes

When two or more tectonic plates colid.

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Crust

We live on it and is about 40km thick.

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Mantle

Hot rock (liquid (convection currents)).

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Outer core

Liquid

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Inner core

Iron

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Plate tectonic theory (Wegeners's theory)

Most scientists now accept the theory of plate tectonics. Wegeners's continental drift theory was not accepted by scientists at the time.

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Why is his theory now accepted? Part 1

Firstly the world is like a jigsaw puzzle. Secondly the same types of fossils can be seen in a lot of different places. Thirdly we can now track the movement of places by using a satellite (London and New York are getting 2.5cm away from each other-

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Why is his theory now accepted? Part 2

Every year). Finally different types of rocks are in places faraway from each other.

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How do tectonic plates move?

They move by conversion currents.

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Subduction

This happens when a thinner and denser oceanic collides with a thicker and more dense continental plate. When they collid the oceanic plate goes under the continental plate an undergoes partial remelting this all happens because of convention curents

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Earthquakes

Back

When two or more tectonic plates colid.

Card 3

Front

Crust

Back

Card 4

Front

Mantle

Back

Card 5

Front

Outer core

Back

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The Structure of the Earth