Geography: Tectonics

Question 1

What are the four main layers of the Earth?

Answer 1

The inner core
The outer core
The mantle
The crust

Question 2

Describe the inner core.

Answer 2

The inner core is extremely hot and is a very dense solid.

Question 3

Describe the outer core.

Answer 3

The outer core is 2,000 km thick and is a liquid.

Question 4

Describe the mantle.

Answer 4

The mantle is semi-molten and about 3,000 km thick.

Question 5

Describe the crust.

Answer 5

The crust is the rocky outer layer; it is approximately 5-70 km thick.

Question 6

What is a plate margin?

Answer 6

Where two or more plates meet .

Question 7

What are convection currents?

Answer 7

Movement within the Earth’s mantle caused by the heat of the core.

Question 8

When does a constructive plate margin occur?

Answer 8

When plates move apart.

Question 9

What natural hazards occur at constructive plate margins?

Answer 9

Volcanoes and earthquakes.

Question 10

What examples of constructive plate margins are there?

Answer 10

The North American and Eurasian plates which formed the mid-Atlantic Ridge

Question 11

When does a destructive plate margin occur?

Answer 11

When tectonic plates move towards each other and collide.

Question 12

What are the effects when two continental (land) plates collide on a destructive plate margin?

Answer 12

Compression forces form fold mountains.

Question 13

What are examples of two continental plates colliding on a destructive plate margin?

Answer 13

The Indian and Eurasian plates which formed the Himalayas.

Question 14

What are the effects when an oceanic and continental plate move towards each other on a destructive plate margin?

Answer 14

The denser oceanic plate is subjected and sinks under the continental plate. Earthquakes, fold mountains and volcanoes occur.

Question 15

What is an example of oceanic and continental plate moving towards each other on a destructive plate margin?

Answer 15

The Nazca and South American plates.

Question 16

When does a conservative plate margin occur?

Answer 16

When plates slide past each other.

Question 17

What are the effects of a conservative plate margin?

Answer 17

Earthquakes occur.

Question 18

What is an example of a conservative plate margin?

Answer 18

The North Atlantic and Pacific plates forming the San Andreas Fault.

Question 19

Name two characteristics of a shield volcano.

Answer 19

Gently sloping sides, runny lava.

Question 20

Name two characteristics of a composite volcano.

Answer 20

Steep sided and cone-shaped, sticky lava.

Question 21

What are the three types of hazard and their definition?

Answer 21

Atmospheric - Related to weather
Geomorphological - Related to mass movement/ gravity acting on land
Tectonic - Related to movements of the earth’s crust

Question 22

What are earthquakes?

Answer 22

The sudden violent shaking of the ground.

Question 23

What is the focus of an earthquake?

Answer 23

The point inside the Earth’s crust where the earthquake originates.

Question 24

What is the earthquake’s energy released in?

Answer 24

Seismic waves.

Question 25

What is the epicentre of the earthquake?

Answer 25

The epicentre is the point on the Earths surface directly above the focus.

Question 26

Where are the seismic waves, caused by an earthquake, most powerful;?

Answer 26

At the epicentre of the earthquake

Question 27

How are tsunamis caused?

Answer 27

When an underwater earthquake occurs.

Question 28

Define tsunami.

Answer 28

A large sea wave caused by the displacement of a large volume of water.

Question 29

What 3 ways can we lessen the effects of earthquakes? (3 Ps)

Answer 29

Prediction
Protection
Preparation

Question 30

Define prediction in terms of the 3 Ps.

Answer 30

Using technology to estimate when and where we think an earthquake is going to happen.

Question 31

Define protection in terms of the 3 Ps.

Answer 31

Putting measures in place to help protect people during an earthquake.

Question 32

Define preparation in terms of the 3 Ps.

Answer 32

Getting ready for when an earthquake eventually comes (i.e. drills, preparing materials in advance etc)