Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Hazards > Plate tectonics > Flashcards

Plate tectonics Flashcards

1
Q

=What are the four layers of earth’s structure

A
  • Inner core
  • Outer core
  • Mantle
  • Crust (continental & oceanic)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Describe the features of the mantle

A
  • Makes up 84% of earth’s volume
  • Composed of silicates of iron, magnesium and sulphides
  • Radius of 2900 km
  • Temperature around 3000’C
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Describe the features of the inner core

A
  • Solid dense ball of metal
  • Composed of iron and nickel
  • Radius of 1200 km
  • Temperature above 6000’C
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Describe the features of the outer core

A
  • Composed of liquid iron and nickel
  • Radius 2200 km
  • Temperature 4000-5000’C
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the two types of crust

A

Oceanic and continental

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Describe the features of the oceanic crust

A
  • Composed of basalt and gabbro
  • 6 km thick
  • found under oceans
  • Dense
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe the features of the continental crust

A
  • Composed of granite
  • 35 km thick
  • Found under land masses
  • Thicker, older and less dense
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the three ways the earths crust can move

A
  • Slab pull
  • Convection currents
  • Ridge push / gravitational sliding
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

At what plate boundary does slab pull occur

A

Destructive plate boundary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

At what plate boundary does ridge push occur

A

Constructive plate boundary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe the process of ridge push

A
  • magma rises up and solidifies
  • creating a new plate
  • pushing the old plates apart
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe the process of slab pull

A
  • Dense oceanic crust is subducted underneath the continental crust
  • As the plate sinks into the mantle the rest of the plate follows
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What do convection currents do

A
  • Pull plates apart
  • hot magma rises and spreads under the plates
  • It cools and becomes denser and sinks
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the four plate boundaries

A
  • Destructive
  • Constructive
  • Conservative
  • Collision
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe what happens at destructive plate boundary

A
  • Two plates pushed together, heavier oceanic crust subducted beneath lighter continental crust
  • Oceanic plate sticks and locks as it tries to slide underneath continental plate
  • Heat from friction and mantle causes subducted oceanic plate to melt
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe what happens at collision plate boundary

A
  • Two continental plates crash into each other
  • As they collide they trigger earthquakes
  • Rocks between the plates get pushed up and folded
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe what happens at constructive plate boundary

A
  • Two plates move apart
  • A gap appears and magma rises to fill the gap
  • Magma solidifies and creates new rocks on sea bed
  • Overtime the rocks build up and break though the surface of the ocean
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe what happens at conservative plate boundary

A
  • Two plates move in the same direction
  • As they move past each other they snag
  • Pressure and tension builds up as the plates lock together
  • Eventually the plates break causing a surge forward
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What two landforms are created at a constructive plate margin

A

Rift valley
Sea floor spreading / Ocean ridge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is an example of a rift valley

A

Great African Rift valley

21
Q

At which plate margin does a rift valley form at

A

Constructive margin

22
Q

Describe how a rift valley forms

A
  • Two plates move away from eachother
  • Molten magma rises in the gap and creates a new crust
23
Q

What is an example of sea floor spreading / ocean ridge

A

Mid Atlantic Ridge

24
Q

At what plate margin does sea floor spreading form at

A

Constructive margin

25
Describe how sea floor spreading forms and creates a ocean ridge
- Two plates move away from each other - Molten magma rises in the gap and creates a new crust - Submarine volcanoes can form
26
What two landforms are created at a destructive plate margin
Deep sea trenches (ocean trench) Island arcs
27
What is an example of a deep sea trench
Mariana trench
28
What is an example of an island arc
The Caribbean
29
At which plate margin does a deep sea trench (ocean trench) form
Destructive margin
30
At which plate margin does a island arc form
Destructive margin
31
Describe how a deep sea trench forms
Continental and oceanic plate meet and the oceanic plate is subducted under the continental plate causing the plates to bend and form a steep, V-shaped depression
32
Describe how an island arc forms
Magma pushes up from the trenches creating a volcano. Magma solidifies creating an island
33
What landform is created at a collisional plate margin
Young fold mountains
34
What is an example of a young fold mountain
Himalayas
35
At which plate margin does a young fold mountain form at
Collisional margin
36
Describe how young fold mountains are formed
Two continental plates meet and both plates are pushed upwards causing rocks between the plates to get pushed up and folded
37
What does the formation of young fold mountains trigger
Earthquakes
38
What landform is created at a conservative plate margin
Fault lines
39
What is an example of a fault line
San Andreas Fault, California
40
At which plate margin does a fault line form at
Conservative margin
41
Describe how a fault line is created
Two plates move in parallel to eachother and the crust is not destroyed or created
42
What are the five types of volcanoes
- Fissure volcano - Shield volcano - Dome volcano - Ash and cinder volcano - Caldera volcano
43
What are the two constructive volcanoes
- Fissure volcanoes - Shield volcanoes
44
What are the three destructive volcanoes
- Dome volcanoes - Ash and cinder volcanoes - Caldera volcanoes
45
What is an example of a fissure volcano
Giants Causeway, N. Ireland
46
What is an example of a shield volcano
Mauna Loa, Hawaii
47
What is an example of a dome volcano
Mount St. Helens, USA
48
What is an example of a ash and cinder volcano
Mount Etna, Italy
49
What is an example of a caldera volcano
Mount Mazama, USA

Hazards (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions