the theory that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move around on top of the asthenosphere

a theory that suggests that all of the continents use to be part of one big continent, until they broke apart and slowly drifted to where they are now

term for the super continent which (some believe) contained all the tectonic plates joined together

thinner, more dense, younger crust making ocean floor

thicker, less dense, older crust making the continents

-Earth's crust and part of the upper mantle

lithosphere

-the plastic-like layer of Earth below the plates

asthenosphere

a plate boundary at which plates come together

a plate boundary at which plates are moving away from each other

the boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally

a crack in the Earth's crust

openings in Earth's crust from which molten rock, dust, ash, and hot gases flow or erupt

land form made by two continental plates colliding and forcing each other upwards.

a deep valley that forms where two plates move apart

an underwater mountain chain where new ocean floor is produced; a divergent plate boundary

a convergent boundary where an oceanic plate is pushed beneath a continental plate forming a trench

sudden movements of Earth's crust followed by a series of shocks