Plate Tectonics Flashcards

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1
Q

Developed the theory of Continental Drift

A

Alfred Wegener

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2
Q

Created the theory of Sea Floor Spreading

A

Harry Hess

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3
Q

The two theories of continental drift and seafloor spreading lead to the current theory that Earth’s outer crust (lithosphere) is divided into several plates that glide over the plastic like asthenosphere (upper mantle)

A

Theory of Plate Tectonics

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4
Q

What is the engine that moves the plates? It is caused by hotter magma rising and cooler magma sinking

A

convection currents

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5
Q

Layer of rock which forms the continents and the shallow sea beds close to the shore. It is older, thicker and less dense

A

Continental Crust

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6
Q

A thin layer of crust that underlies the ocean basins, consists mainly of basalt younger and more dense

A

Oceanic crust

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7
Q

plates that are dividing or moving apart

A

Divergent boundaries

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8
Q

Plates that slip sideways past one another.

A

Transform Boundaries

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9
Q

Plates that are colliding

A

Convergent boundaries

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10
Q

When two oceanic crusts diverge they create this type of feature

A

Mid-ocean ridge and sea floor spreading

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11
Q

New crust is created at this type of boundary

A

divergent

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12
Q

What is an example of a divergent boundary when two oceanic plates are moving apart

A

Mid Atlantic Ridge which comes above the ocean in Iceland

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13
Q

When two CONTINENTAL crusts diverge what type of crustal feature do they form?

A

rift valley

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14
Q

What is an example of a rift valley?

A

The Great Rift Valley in Africa

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15
Q

Crust is neither created or destroyed at this type of boundary

A

transform

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16
Q

Earthquakes are created at this type of boundary

A

transform

17
Q

What is the most famous transform boundary found in the US?

A

San Andreas Fault in California

18
Q

When two continental plates converge what type of feature is formed?

A

folded mountains

19
Q

When a continental plate and an oceanic plate converge what type of feature is formed?

A

volcanoes

20
Q

When an oceanic plate and an oceanic plate converge what type of feature is formed

A

volcanic arc islands

21
Q

What is an example of folded mountains?

A

Himalayas

22
Q

What is an example of volcanoes formed due to continental/oceanic crust colliding?

A

Cascade Mountains in Oregon and Washington which includes Mt. St. Helen’s

23
Q

What is an example of a volcanic arc island?

A

The Aleutian Islands in Alaska

24
Q

When a continental/oceanic crust converges, which one will subduct?

A

The continental crust because it is more dense

25
Q

What is continental crust mainly made of?

A

granite

26
Q

What is oceanic crust mainly made of?

A

basalt

27
Q

Which is older? Continental crust or Oceanic crust?

A

Continental

28
Q

An area where one plate slides underneath another

A

subduction zone

29
Q

When two oceanic crusts converge which one will subduct?

A

The older crust

30
Q

A long chain of volcanoes that surround the Pacific Ocean

A

Ring of Fire