Geology

Question 1

Seismic Waves

Answer 1

Waves of energy that travel through the Earth’s crust, caused by earthquakes

Question 2

Continental Drift

Answer 2

Movement of the plates of the Earth’s crust in relation to each other

Question 3

Pangaea

Answer 3

A super-continent that existed about 225 million years ago. All of the landmasses that existed at this time were joined together to form this super-continent.

Question 4

Panthalassa

Answer 4

The vast sea surrounding the supercontinent of Pangaea

Question 5

Plate Tectonics

Answer 5

The theory concerning the movement of the continental plates

Question 6

Mantle

Answer 6

Thick layer inside the Earth, below the crust. Most of the mantle is solid rock, although the upper part is molten rock called magma.

Question 7

Convection Current

Answer 7

Circular movement that occurs when warmer, less dense fluid particles rise and cooler, denser fluid particles sink

Question 8

Continental Crust

Answer 8

The plates of the Earth’s crust that make up the land

Question 9

Oceanic Crust

Answer 9

One of the types of crust that makes up the Earth’s outer layer. Oceanic crust is thinner than continental crust and made up of dense, heavy rocks such as basalt.

Question 10

Subduction

Answer 10

Process in which two tectonic plates push against each other, and oceanic crust sinks below the less dense continental crust

Question 11

Destructive Plate Boundaries

Answer 11

A convergent boundary where two plates collide

Question 12

Constructive Plate Boundary

Answer 12

Plate that creates new land from cooling magma

Question 13

Ocean Ridges

Answer 13

An area where the tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma from the mantle to rise, forming underwater volcanoes and creating new oceanic crust as it is cooled and solidified by sea water

Question 14

Laurasia

Answer 14

One of the two smaller continents created when the supercontinent Pangaea broke apart about 200 million years ago

Question 15

Gondwanaland

Answer 15

One of the two smaller continents created when the supercontinent Pangaea broke apart about 200 million years ago

Question 16

Hotspots

Answer 16

A localised place where an activity occurs

Question 17

Earthquakes

Answer 17

Vibrations of the Earth produced by release of energy

Question 18

Focus

Answer 18

The point within the Earth where the Earthquake starts

Question 19

Epicentre

Answer 19

The location on the surface directly above the focus

Question 20

Faults

Answer 20

Fractures within the Earth where movement occurs

Question 21

Elastic Rebound Hypothesis

Answer 21

This is ow most earthquakes occur, they are produced by the rapid release of elastic energy stored in rock that has been subjected to great force. Eventually, when the strength is exceeded it breaks, causing vibrations.