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Geography: Tectonics > 1.2 Plate Tectonics > Flashcards

1.2 Plate Tectonics Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the structure of the earth?

A

core
mantle
crust

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2
Q

describe the earth’s core
(3 points)

A

6,000 degrees celsius from radioactive decay
inner core is solid
the outer core is semi-molten

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3
Q

describe the earth’s mantle
(3 points)

A

the widest layer
the upper mantle is solid
the lower mantle is semi-molten

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4
Q

describe the earth’s crust
(3 points)

A

the outer shell
the oceanic crust is thin and dense
the continental crust is thicker and less dense

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5
Q

what does the oceanic crust form?

A

ocean floors

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6
Q

what does the continental crust form?

A

land

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7
Q

what makes up the lithosphere?

A

the crust and mantle

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8
Q

how many tectonic plates make up the lithosphere?

A

7

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9
Q

what is the convection theory on how plates move? (8 points)

A
  1. core heats mantle
  2. mantle melts and becomes less dense
  3. mantle moves up towards the crust
  4. mantle moves and becomes more dense
  5. mantle moves sideways dragging the
    lithosphere with it
  6. tectonic plates move
  7. mantle sinks back to the core
  8. process repeats
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10
Q

what is subduction?

A

2 plates coverge (push together)
the more dense one is subducted

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11
Q

what is sea floor spreading?

A
  1. 2 plates diverge (move apart)
  2. magma rises through crack
  3. magma cools
  4. tectonic plates are forced apart
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12
Q

what is paleomagnetic striping?

A

when sea floor spreading occurs, the older cooled magma is pushed away
the new rock that has been formed faces in the opposite direction because of the earth’s magnetic field

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13
Q

what is a plate boundary?

A

where 2 tectonics meet

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14
Q

what is a divergent/constructive plate boundary?

A

2 plates move apart forming new crust

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15
Q

what occurs along divergent/constructive plate boundaries?

A

mid-ocean ridge
submarine volcanoes
rift valleys

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16
Q

what is a mid-ocean ridge?

A

a mountain system on the sea floor

17
Q

where is there an example of a mid-ocean ridge?

A

mid-atlantic ridge

18
Q

what is a submarine volcano?

A

volcanoes which are under the sea but when they erupt they can grow to above sea level

19
Q

where is an example of a submarine volcano?

A

iceland

20
Q

what is a rift valley?

A

when the new crust forms it has parallel faults in it causing the land beneath it to collapse

21
Q

where is there an example of a rift valley?

A

west antartic ridge

22
Q

what is the process of a divergent/constructive plate boundary?
(3 points)

A
  1. plates move apart
  2. a gap in the crust allows magma to rise
  3. magma rises under low pressure so shield volcanoes form and eruptions are gentle
23
Q

what is a conservative plate boundary?

A

2 plates sliding past each other

24
Q

what causes an earthquake at a conservative plate boundary?

A

the plates getting stuck

25
Q

what is an example of a conservative plate boundary?

A

san adreas fault

26
Q

what is the LTL theory of a conservative plate boundary?

A

the plates LOCK together creating TENSION which causes the plates to LURCH when the tectonic strain is released resulting in an earthquake

27
Q

what is a convergent/destructive plate boundary?

A

2 plates colliding

28
Q

what happens at an oceanic-oceanic or oceanic-continental convergent/destructive plate boundary?

A

the denser plate is subducted

29
Q

what happens at a continental-continental convergent/destructive plate boundary?

A

the plates push up to form fold mountains

30
Q

where is an example of a convergent/destructive plate boundary?

A

mount st helens

31
Q

what is the process of a convergent/destructive plate boundary?
(5 points)

A
  1. 2 plates collide
  2. the denser plate (oceanic) is subducted
  3. friction occurs due to the movement of rocks beneath it causing earthquakes to occur in the benioff zone
  4. the subducted plate melts forming the magma chamber
  5. magma rises up under high pressure, through a fault in the crust causing an explosive composite volcanic eruption

Geography: Tectonics (11 decks)

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