Questions and Answers
What is the crust?
The thin, solid, outermost layer of Earth; is either continental (landmasses) or oceanic (ocean floors).
What is a divergent boundary?
The boundary between two tectonic plates moving away from each other; if on land, it creates rift valleys; if on the sea floor, it creates new ocean crust and mountainous ridges.
What is magma?
Melted or molten rock material beneath Earth's surface; cools slowly to form rocks with larger crystals.
What is a mid-ocean ridge?
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What is seafloor spreading?
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What is subduction?
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What are tectonic plates?
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What are trenches?
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What is a convergent boundary?
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What is an ocean basin?
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What is a divergent (spreading) boundary?
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What is a convergent (come together) boundary?
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What is oceanic crust?
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What is continental crust?
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Study Notes
Crust
- Outermost layer of Earth; can be continental (landmasses) or oceanic (ocean floors).
Divergent Boundary
- Boundary where tectonic plates move apart; results in rift valleys on land and new ocean crust at mid-ocean ridges.
Magma
- Molten rock material beneath Earth's surface; cools to form rocks with larger crystals.
Mid-Ocean Ridge
- Largest underwater mountain range formed by plate tectonics; significant volcanic activity occurs here.
Seafloor Spreading
- Process of new oceanic crust formation through magma upwelling at mid-ocean ridges.
Subduction
- Occurs when a denser tectonic plate is forced below a less dense plate during plate convergence.
Tectonic Plates
- Massive crustal segments that shift on the upper mantle due to convection currents.
Trenches
- Formations in the seafloor where subducted plates descend into the mantle, creating deep depressions.
Convergent Boundary
- Interaction zone where two tectonic plates collide, often resulting in geological activity such as earthquakes.
Ocean Basin
- Depressed areas of Earth's surface that host oceans.
Divergent (Spreading) Boundary
- Specific zone where new seafloor is generated, contributing to the growth of tectonic plates.
Convergent (Come Together) Boundary
- Defined area where tectonic plates clash, leading to geological formations such as mountains.
Oceanic Crust
- The portion of Earth's crust located beneath the ocean surface.
Continental Crust
- Earth’s crust layer that forms the continents, generally thicker and less dense than oceanic crust.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the fundamental concepts of seafloor spreading, including key terms such as crust, divergent boundaries, and magma. This quiz will help you understand the processes that shape our planet's ocean floors.