Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

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

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 two landforms are created at a destructive plate margin

A

Deep sea trenches (ocean trench)
Island arcs

24
Q

What is an example of a deep sea trench

A

Mariana trench

25
Q

What is an example of an island arc

A

The Caribbean

26
Q

At which plate margin does a deep sea trench (ocean trench) form

A

Destructive margin

27
Q

At which plate margin does a island arc form

A

Destructive margin

28
Q

Describe how a deep sea trench forms

A

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

29
Q

Describe how an island arc forms

A

Magma pushes up from the trenches creating a volcano. Magma solidifies creating an island

30
Q

What landform is created at a collisional plate margin

A

Young fold mountains

31
Q

What is an example of a young fold mountain

A

Himalayas

32
Q

At which plate margin does a young fold mountain form at

A

Collisional margin

33
Q

Describe how young fold mountains are formed

A

Two continental plates meet and both plates are pushed upwards causing rocks between the plates to get pushed up and folded

34
Q

What does the formation of young fold mountains trigger

A

Earthquakes

35
Q

What landform is created at a conservative plate margin

A

Fault lines

36
Q

What is an example of a fault line

A

San Andreas Fault, California

37
Q

At which plate margin does a fault line form at

A

Conservative margin

38
Q

Describe how a fault line is created

A

Two plates move in parallel to eachother and the crust is not destroyed or created

39
Q

What are the five types of volcanoes

A
  • Fissure volcano
  • Shield volcano
  • Dome volcano
  • Ash and cinder volcano
  • Caldera volcano
40
Q

What are the two constructive volcanoes

A
  • Fissure volcanoes
  • Shield volcanoes
41
Q

What are the three destructive volcanoes

A
  • Dome volcanoes
  • Ash and cinder volcanoes
  • Caldera volcanoes
42
Q

What is an example of a fissure volcano

A

Giants Causeway, N. Ireland

43
Q

What is an example of a shield volcano

A

Mauna Loa, Hawaii

44
Q

What is an example of a dome volcano

A

Mount St. Helens, USA

45
Q

What is an example of a ash and cinder volcano

A

Mount Etna, Italy

46
Q

What is an example of a caldera volcano

A

Mount Mazama, USA

Hazards (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions