M6: Plate Tectonics

Question 1

Massive slab of solid rock made up of Earth’s lithosphere (crust and upper mantle). Also called litosphere plate.

Answer 1

Tectonic plates

Question 2

This theory states that the plates move due to the significant difference in material, behavior, and strength of the litosphere and underlying layer, the athenosphere.

Answer 2

Plate tectonic theory

Question 3

Proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912; Earth’s continents were once joined together as one supercontinent, but later broke apart and moved to their current position.

Answer 3

Continental Drift Theory

Question 4

Proposed by Harry Hess in1962; there is a continuous welling out of lava that spreads the ocean floor and forms new crust.

Answer 4

Seafloor spreading theory

Question 5

Found at the edges of continents or in the sea, near chains of active volcanoes.

Answer 5

Trenches

Question 6

Adjacent plates slip past each other

Answer 6

Transform plate boundary

Question 7

Adjacent plates move away from each other

Answer 7

Divergent plate boundary

Question 8

Adjacent plates move towards each other and collide

Answer 8

Convergent Plate boundary