6th Grade Science Part 2 Plate Techtonics

Question 1

Alfred Wegener

Answer 1

A German scientist, in 1912, theorized that all of the Earth’s continents were once connected together in a single, large landmass. This theory became known as Continental Drift.

Question 2

compression

Answer 2

the type of stress that occurs when an object is squeezed

Question 3

continental drift

Answer 3

the first hypothesis proposing large movements of continents. This idea was replaced by the Theory of Plate Tectonics.

Question 4

convection currents

Answer 4

the circular motion of liquids or gases due to density differences that result from temperature

Question 5

convergent boundary

Answer 5

an area where two tectonic plates push against each other

Question 6

divergent boundary

Answer 6

an area where two tectonic plates pull away from each other

Question 7

earthquake

Answer 7

a sudden movement of the earth’s crust caused by the release of stress which forms along geologic faults or by volcanic activity

Question 8

fault

Answer 8

a break in the earth’s crust

Question 9

hot spot

Answer 9

plumes that come from convection currents in the mantle and are stationary compared to the moving plates around them

Question 10

mid ocean ridge

Answer 10

a long mountain chain that forms on the ocean floor where tectonic plate pull apart. Marks the site where new ocean floor is created as two plates move away from each other.

Question 11

mountain building

Answer 11

the geological processes such as plate tectonic movement and volcanic activity, by which mountains are formed

Question 12

ocean basin

Answer 12

the part of the earth’s lithosphere that is covered in salt water and contains the ocean floor, mid ocean ridges, and the lower parts of the continental crust.

Question 13

Pangea

Answer 13

the supercontinent that began to break apart 250 million years ago to form the present continents

Question 14

plate boundary

Answer 14

the edge where lithospheric plates touch

Question 15

volcanic mountain

Answer 15

A mountain that forms when molten rock erupts onto the Earth’s surface

Question 16

seafloor spreading

Answer 16

an idea that says that new ocean floor is created where two plates move away from one another at mid ocean ridges

Question 17

subduction

Answer 17

a long, narrow zone where one lithospheric plate slips underneath another

Question 18

tectonic plates

Answer 18

a piece of the lithosphere that moves around on top of the mantle

Question 19

tension

Answer 19

the type of stress that occurs when forces act to stretch an object

Question 20

Theory of Plate Tectonics

Answer 20

the theory that states that the Earth’s lithosphere is broken into plates that move over a flowing layer of the mantle. Plate interactions produce earthquakes, mountains, and volcanoes.

Question 21

transform boundary

Answer 21

an area where two tectonic plates slide past each other (sliding boundary)

Question 22

trench

Answer 22

the natural boundary between two lithospheric plates. Becomes deeper as plates pull away from each other.

Question 23

uplift

Answer 23

the process in which regions of the earth’s crust are raised to a higher elevation

Question 24

Eurasian Plate

Answer 24

the tectonic plate located under Europe and Asia

Question 25

African Plate

Answer 25

the tectonic plate located under Africa

Question 26

Indo-Australian Plate

Answer 26

the tectonic plate located under India and Australia

Question 27

Pacific Plate

Answer 27

the tectonic plate located under most of the Pacific Ocean

Question 28

North American Plate

Answer 28

the tectonic plate located under North America

Question 29

South American Plate

Answer 29

the tectonic plate located under South America