According to the plate tectonics model, the

entire lithosphere of the Earth is broken

into numerous segments called plates.
• Each plate is slowly but continuously
moving.
• As a result of the motion of the plates,
three types of plate boundaries were
formed: Divergent, Convergent, and
Transform fault boundaries.
• Divergent boundary is formed when
plates move apart, creating a zone of
tension.
• Convergent boundary is present when
two plates collide.
• Transform fault is characterized by plates
that are sliding past each other.
• Plate tectonics give rise to several
geologic features and events
Glossary of Terms:
Continental volcanic arc mountains
formed in part by igneous activity
associated with subduction of oceanic
lithosphere beneath a continent
Convergent boundary a boundary in
which two plates move toward each
other, causing one of the slabs of the
lithosphere to subduct beneath an
overriding plate.
 Crust the outer portion of the
earth.
Continental Crust the thick part
of the Earth’s crust, not located
under the ocean.
Oceanic Crust the thin part of
the Earth’s crust located under
the oceans.
Divergent boundary a region where
the crustal plates are moving apart.
Earthquake vibration of Earth due to
the rapid release of energy.
Fault a break in a rock along which
movement has occurred Fracture
any break in a rock in which no
significant movement has taken
place.
Geology the science that studies
Earth.
Hot spot a concentration of heat
in the mantle capable of creating
magma.
Magma a mass of molten rock
formed at depth, including
dissolved gases and crystals.
Mid-ocean ridge a continuous mass of
land with long width and height on the
ocean floor.
Plates rigid sections of the lithosphere
that move as a unit.
Plate tectonics a theory which suggests
that Earth’s crust is made up of plates that
interact in various ways, thus producing
earthquakes, mountains, volcanoes, and
other geologic features.
Primary (P) wave the first type of seismic wave
to be recorded in a seismic station.
Rocks consolidated mixture of minerals.
Secondary (S) wave second type of earthquake
wave to be recorded in a seismic station.
Seismogram a record made by a seismograph.
Seismograph a device used to record
earthquake waves
Subduction an event in which a slab of
rock thrusts into the mantle.
Transform fault boundary a boundary
produced when two plates slide past each
other.
Trench a depression in the seafloor
produced by subduction process. Volcanic
Island arc a chain of volcanoes that
develop parallel to a trench.
Asthenosphere soft, weak upper
portion of the mantle where the
lithospheric plates float and move
around.
Continental Drift Theory states that
all the continents were once one
large landmass that broke apart, and
where the pieces moved slowly to
their current locations.
Convection current in the
mantle because of the heat from
the inner layers of the Earth, and
is the force that drives the plates
to move around.
Lithosphere the topmost, solid
part of the Earth that is
composed of several plates.
Lithospheric Plates the moving,
irregularly-shaped slabs that fit
together to form the surface of the
Earth.
Mid-ocean ridge area in the middle
of the ocean where a new ocean
floor is formed when lava erupts
through the cracks in the Earth’s
crust.
Mohorovičić Discontinuity (Moho)
the boundary that separates the
crust and the mantle.
Plasticity the ability of solid to
flow. Seafloor spreading process by
which new ocean floor is formed
near the mid-ocean ridge and
moves outward.
Subduction the process in which
the crust plunges back into the
Earth.
Tectonics branch of geology that
deals with the movements that
shape the Earth’s crust