Question

tectonic plates: - earth’s surface is covered by a layer of rock called ______. - the crust is the top layer of earth called the ____. - the lithosphere is not continuous. it is made of large pieces or slabs called ____. point of clarification - crust and lithosphere are often used interchangeably to describe the outermost layer of earth. the term are actually used differently depending on how you study earth’s interior. - crust is used to describe the ____ composition of earth’s interior. in other word when we are studying what the top layer of earth is made of, we use the term crust. - lithosphere is used to describe the ____ properties of earth’s interior. in words, when we are studying the rigidness of earth’s outermost layer, we use the term lithosphere. - tectonic plates move or ____ over earth’s ____ – the top part of the mantle. - the asthenosphere is ____ heated by earth’s core. - this ____ heating causes the tectonic plates to ____. - tectonic plates can move ____ each other, move ____ from each other or slide past each other. - when plates move away from each other, ____ lithosphere is created. this is called a ____ boundary. - when plates move towards each other, ____ is destroyed. this is called a ____ boundary. - when plates slide past each other, they “____,” which creates disturbances such as ______.

Explanation:

These blanks cover key concepts of Earth's tectonic plates, including Earth's layers, plate movement, and plate boundary types, based on geological (Earth science) principles.

Answer:

• Earth's surface is covered by a layer of rock called crust
• The crust is the top layer of Earth called the lithosphere
• The lithosphere is not continuous. It is made of large pieces or slabs called tectonic plates
• Crust is used to describe the chemical composition of Earth's interior.
• Lithosphere is used to describe the physical (mechanical) properties of Earth's interior.
• Tectonic plates move or float over Earth's asthenosphere - the top part of the mantle.
• The asthenosphere is plastic/soft and ductile heated by Earth's core.
• This radiogenic/convection heating causes the tectonic plates to move.
• Tectonic plates can move towards each other, move away from each other or slide past each other.
• When plates move away from each other, new lithosphere is created. This is called a divergent boundary.
• When plates move towards each other, lithosphere is destroyed. This is called a convergent boundary.
• When plates slide past each other, they "grind/rub," which creates disturbances such as earthquakes