Plate Tectonics Flashcards
What is continental drift?
The hypothesis that continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together.
Who proposed the theory of continental drift?
Alfred Wegener.
True or False: The theory of continental drift was widely accepted when first proposed.
False.
What is plate tectonics?
The scientific theory explaining the movement of the Earth’s lithosphere which is divided into tectonic plates.
Name the three main types of plate boundaries.
Divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.
Fill in the blank: Earthquakes primarily occur along _____ boundaries.
plate.
What is a divergent boundary?
A boundary where two tectonic plates move away from each other.
What geological feature is commonly formed at convergent boundaries?
Mountain ranges or subduction zones.
True or False: Transform boundaries cause the formation of new crust.
False.
What is the focus of an earthquake?
The point within the Earth where an earthquake originates.
What is a tsunami?
A series of ocean waves caused by large-scale disturbances, typically underwater earthquakes.
Name a famous earthquake that led to a tsunami.
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
What is the Richter scale used for?
To measure the magnitude of earthquakes.
What is subduction?
The process by which one tectonic plate moves under another plate and sinks into the mantle.
What type of boundary is associated with the formation of mid-ocean ridges?
Divergent boundaries.
True or False: Earthquakes can only occur at plate boundaries.
False.
What do we call the point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake?
The epicenter.
Fill in the blank: The _____ is the layer of the Earth that is liquid and allows tectonic plates to move.
asthenosphere.
What is a hot spot?
An area where molten rock from the mantle rises to the surface, forming volcanoes.
Name one effect of tsunamis on coastal areas.
Flooding and destruction of infrastructure.
What is a seismic wave?
A wave of energy that travels through the Earth, often caused by earthquakes.
What type of seismic wave is the fastest?
P-waves (primary waves).
What is the boundary between two tectonic plates called?
Plate boundary.
True or False: Tsunamis can be generated by volcanic eruptions.
True.
What is liquefaction during an earthquake?
When saturated soil substantially loses strength and stiffness due to shaking.
What is the term for the gradual movement of tectonic plates over time?
Plate motion.
