Did you know that, according to scientists, the continents of Earth were once a single, large super-continent called Pangaea? The Earth you know looked very different millions of years ago and will look just as different millions of years in the future.
In this module, you will learn about ocean geology and how complex processes including seafloor spreading and plate tectonics constantly reshape the continents and oceans. Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the movements of the upper layers of Earth's structure. In turn, these movements rely on massive processes occurring deep within the Earth.
Before you learn about geology, see how much you already know about plate tectonics and seafloor spreading. In this interactivity, read each question and click the label to review the answer. Click the player button to get started.
View a printable version of this interactivity.
To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.
Alfred Wegener | Gondwanaland | Mesozoic Era | seafloor spreading |
Archimedes principal | granite | mid-ocean ridge | shearing |
asthenosphere | Harry Hess | outer core | sonar |
basalt | hot spots | Paleozoic Era | subduction zone |
buoyancy | inner core | Pangaea | tension |
compression | isostatic equilibrium | Panthalassa Sea | Tethys Sea |
continental drift | lithosphere | plate boundary | thermal convection |
convergent | Laurasia | plate tectonics | transform |
crust | magma | radiometric dating | trenches |
divergent | mantle | rifting |