Midterm Vocabulary Review Density Chemistry Earth Science

Vocabulary List Density Mid Ocean Ridge Lithosphere Continental Drift Continental Crust Relative Dating Oceanic Crust Radiometric Dating Convection Current Half-Life Geothermal Energy Igneous Rock Radioactive Decay Metamorphic Rock Convergent Boundary Sedimentary Rock Divergent Boundary Weathering Transform Boundary Erosion Sea Floor Spreading Constructive Forces Subduction Destructive Forces

The idea that new sea floor is being made at ocean ridges and sea floor is being destroyed at ocean trenches. Sea Floor Spreading

The process that happens at convergent boundaries where one plate sinks under the other plate and is melted back into magma. Subduction

Measurement of how compact something is, how much matter is in a specific space. Density

Energy that comes from the heat energy inside the Earth. Geothermal Energy

Youngest type of crust, typically the thinnest but the most dense, constantly being destroyed and remade. Oceanic Crust

A boundary where two tectonic plates are moving side by side. Transform Boundary

Processes that take away land or features from the Earth. Destructive Forces

Determining the age of something by comparing it to something else. Relative Dating

A boundary where two tectonic plates are coming together. Convergent Boundary

Circular movements of magma created by the heating of the mantle by the outer core. They are what cause the tectonic plates to move. Convection Currents

The process by which rock is broken into smaller pieces by physical forces, chemical reactions, or living things. Weathering

A boundary where two tectonic plates are moving apart. Divergent Boundary

Rigid part of the Earth the is made of the crust and the top part of the mantle. It is broken into pieces called tectonic plates. Lithosphere

Underwater mountains where new sea floor is being made. Mid Ocean Ridge

Oldest type of crust, typically the thickest but the least dense crust. Continental Crust

The process that happens as unstable atoms fall apart and become more stable elements. This process is one of the sources of heat for the Earth’s core and also is used to help determine the exact ages of rock or fossils. Radioactive Decay

Rock that is created when existing rock is changed by heat or pressure. Metamorphic Rock

Processes that add land or features to the Earth. Constructive Forces

The process by which rock is carried away by wind, water, or gravity. Erosion

The idea that the continents were once together and over time have moved apart. Continental Drift

Rock that is created when magma or lava cools and hardens. Igneous Rock

Rock that is created when tiny pieces of sediment get compacted and cemented together. Sedimentary Rock

The time it takes for half of a sample of radioactive atoms to decay into more stable atoms. Half-Life

Determining the age of something by determining how much radioactive decay has occurred. Radiometric Dating