| A | B |
|---|
| Alfred Wegener | First proposed the hypothesis of continental drift, based on fossil evidence, geographic similarities and the puzzle like shapes of continents. |
| Asthenosphere | The soft layer of the mantle on which the lithosphere floats. |
| Basalt | A dark, dense, igneous rock with a fine texture that is found in Oceanic Crust. |
| Conduction | The transfer of heat by direct contact of particles of matter. |
| Constructive Force | A force that builds up mountains and other land formations on Earth's surface. |
| Continent | A great landmass surrounded by oceans. |
| Continental drift | The hypothesis that the continents slowly move across the Earth's surface. |
| Convection | The transfer of heat by the movements of a heated fluid. |
| Convection current | The movement of a fluid, caused by differences in temperature (density), that transfers heat from one part of the fluid to another. |
| Convergent Boundary | A plate boundary where two plates move toward each other. |
| Core | The center of the Earth made up from the Outer Core and the Inner Core. |
| Crust | The layer of rock that forms the Earth's outer covering. |
| Deep-ocean Trench | A deep valley along the ocean floor, through which oceanic crust slowly sinks towards the mantle. |
| Density | The amount of mass in a given space; mass per unit volume. |
| Destructive Force | A force that slowly wears away mountains and other features on the surface of Earth. |
| Divergent Boundary | A plate boundary where two plates move away from each other. |
| Fault | A break in the Earth's crust where slabs of rock slip past each other. |
| Fossil | A trace of an ancient organism that has been preserved in a rock. (Remains that are dug up) |
| Geologist | One who studies rocks, the Earth, and the forces that shape the Earth. |
| Geology | The study of rocks, the Earth, and the forces that shape the Earth. |
| Granite | A usually light colored rock that is found in continental crust. |
| Harry Hess | First proposed the hypothesis that oceanic crust moved, (discovered sea-floor spreading) which would explain how continents could move. This helped to support Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift. |
| Heat Transfer | The movement of energy from a warmer object to a cooler object. |
| Inner Core | A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel in the center of the Earth. |
| J.Tuzo Wilson | Scientist who recognized the significance of crack in the Earth's crust as "plate" boundaries, and put together the Theory of PLATE TECTONICS from his observations, Wegener's observations / hypothesis, and Hess's data on sea floor spreading. |
| Lithosphere | A rigid layer made up of the uppermost part of the mantle and the crust. |
| Mantle | The layer of hot, solid* material between the Earth's crust and the core. |
| Mid-ocean ridge | The undersea mountain chain where new ocean floor is produced; a divergent boundary. |
| Outer Core | A layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth. |
| Pangaea | The name of the single landmass that broke apart 200 million years ago. |
| Plate | A section of the lithosphere that slowly moves over the asthenosphere carrying pieces of oceanic and/or continental crust. |
| Plate Tectonics | The theory that pieces of the Earth's lithosphere are in constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle. |
| Radiation | The transfer of energy through empty space or air. |
| Rift valley | A deep valley that forms where two continental plates move apart at a divergent boundary. |
| Rock | The material that forms Earth's hard surface. |
| Scientific Theory | A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations. |
| Sea-floor spreading | The process by which molten material adds new oceanic crust to the ocean floor. |
| Seismic Wave | A vibration that travels through Earth carrying the energy released during an Earthquake. |
| Sonar | A device that determines the distance of an object (underwater) by recording echoes of sound waves. |
| Subduction | The process by which oceanic crust sinks into a deep-ocean trench (under continental crust) and back into the mantle at a convergent plate boundary. |
| Transform Boundary | A plate boundary where two plates move past each other in opposite directions. |
| - ate / -ic / -tic /-id / -ity | a condition of being _______, to be ________ |
| geo | Earth, rock |
| ology | the study of |
| con / com | together, with |
| tion | the act of |
| Sphere | a ball |
| pan | all |
| sub | under, below |
| duc | to lead |
| verge | to bend or turn |
| asthenes | weak |
| gaea | land |
| radia | a ray |
| bio | life |
| vect | carried |
| di / bi | separate / two |
| lithos | stone |
| seism | shaking |
| trans | across |
| Hypothesis | An educated guess that explains an experienced phenomena or observation. |
| Law (of Science) | A Proven explanation that undeniably explains phenomena that we discover in Science. Must be repeatable and ALWAYS occur or be correct. |
