| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| core | Earth's innermost structure |
| crust | the thin, rocky, outer layer of Earth that makes up the continents and ocean floor |
| fossil | the remains or traces of a plant or animal that lived long ago |
|
lithosphere |
the shell formed from Earth's solid upper mantle and crust |
| mantle | the thick layer of Earth's sturcture just below Earth's crust |
| plate tectonics | the theory that giant plates of crust are moving slowly across Earth's surface |
| earthquake | the violent shaking of Earth's crust as built-up energy is released |
| epicenter | the point on Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake |
| fault | a crack in Earth's surface along which movement takes palce |
| focus | the inside Earth where an earthquake begins |
| magma | melted rock below Earth's surface; called lava at the surface |
| seismic waves | waves of energy sent through Earth's crust when parts of the crust move suddenly |
| dome mountain | mountains that form when magma pushes up on Earth's crust but does not break through |
| fault-block mountains | mountains that form along fault lines where blocks of rock fall, are thrust up, or slide |
| fold mountains | mountains that form where two plates collide and force layers of rock into folds |
