3.1 - 3.2 Quizlet

The hypothesis that a single large landmass broke up into smaller land masses to form the continents, which then drifted to their present locations; the movement of continents.

The theory that explains how large pieces of the lithosphere, called plates, move and change shape.

A system of ideas that explains many related observations and is supported by a large body of evidence acquired through scientific investigation.

The process by which new oceanic lithosphere (sea floor) forms when magma rises to Earth's surface at mid-ocean ridges and solidifies, as older, existing seafloor moves away from the ridge.

The process by which one lithospheric plate moves beneath another plate as a result of tectonic forces.

The process by which Earth's magnetic north pole and magnetic south pole switch positions periodically; a change in the direction in which Earth's magnetic field points.

Any movement of matter that results from differences in density; may be vertical, circular, or cyclical.

A large mass of ice that exists year-round and moves over land

Was the first map maker who noticed that the continents had coastlines that seemed to match up

Some mineral resources, are common in areas near the sea floor

a measure of mass per volume.

Presented the hypothesis of Continental Drift.

The soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move

A wave of energy that travels through Earth and away from an earthquake in all directions.

A large cloud of dust and gas that forms solar systems and/or planets