Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

YEAR 11 - GEOGRAPHY (THE BEST) > Plate Tectonics > Flashcards

Plate Tectonics Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Geography flashcards World Geography flashcards
1
Q

What is the crust (structure of the earth)?

A

It is solid, between 10-60km

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

What is the mantle (structure of the earth)?

A

Thickest section with a diameter of 2900km, semi-molten. Convection currents are found here

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

What is the outer-core (structure of the earth)?

A

Liquid and largely made of iron and nickel, very hot (upto 5500C)

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

What is the inner-core (structure of the earth)?

A

Solid, very pressurised, about 5500C

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

What are the properties of an oceanic crust? (answers are in comparison to continental)

A

Young, thinner, denser, can be made or destroyed

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

What are the properties of a continental crust? (answers are in comparison to oceanic)

A

older, thicker, less dense, can’t be made or destroyed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Explain how convection currents work

A

Magma is heated and rises and becomes less dense
Magma rises towards crust and begins to cool and becomes more dense and sinks
Rising and falling magma creates circular current

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Where are the majorities of earthquakes and volcanoes occur/happen?

A

On or near plate boundaries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is an earthquake?

A

A series of movements in the earth’s crust

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

What is a volcano

A

A vent in the earth’s surface where magma, gas and ash escapes into the atmosphere or earth’s surface

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

What is the ring of fire?

A

The large concentration of volcanoes found on the edge of the Pacific ocean

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is an Intra-plate earthquake?

A

An earthquake found in the centre of a plate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a hot spot?

A

An area where particularly hot magma rises to the surface and breaks through the crust

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the 4 types of plate boundary?

A

Constructive, destructive, collision, conservative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What happens at a constructive plate boundary?

A

Two plates move away from each other and magma rises to the surface and cools forming more land. Earthquakes and volcanoes are not usually violent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What happens at a destructive plate boundary?

A

Two plates move towards each other and the oceanic subducts forming a subduction zone and trenches. Mountains are formed from the melting debris of the oceanic plate. EQs and volcanoes are VVVV violent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What happens at a collision plate boundary?

A

Two continental plates collide and are forced upwards forming fold mountains. EQs are VVVV violent and volcanoes don’t form here

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What happens at a conservative plate boundary?

A

Two continental plates move alongside each other. No major landforms or earthquakes form here. EQs are VVVV violent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the magnitude of an earthquake?

A

How strong it is. Usually measured on the Richter scale

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

What is the focus?

A

The location an earthquake takes place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the epicentre?

A

The location on the surface directly above the focus

22
Q

What is an aftershock?

A

An earthquake that happens after the main earthquake

23
Q

What is the USGS

A

US Geological Survey which records all the world’s tectonic activity

24
Q

What are secondary hazards?

A

The hazard caused by the primary hazard -> Can sometimes be more dangerous than primary hazard

25
Q

State some secondary hazards which can be caused by earthquakes

A

Tsunamis, landslides, fires, diseases, liquefaction, dam failure, pipe rupture

26
Q

State some reasons as to why someone would live near an earthquake area

A

Unwilling to move, poverty and overpopulation, infrequency of EQs, stronger buildings, economic opportunities

27
Q

What does the impact of an earthquake on humans depend on?

A

Depth of focus, magnitude, duration, geology of area, population density, building design, preparedness, time of day

28
Q

What is magma?

A

Molten rock under the crust

29
Q

What is lava?

A

Molten rock on the surface of the Earth

30
Q

What is a crater?

A

A giant hole left by a volcanic eruption. Sometimes fill up with water to make crater lakes

31
Q

What is a magma chamber?

A

An underground store of magma

32
Q

What is a vent?

A

A long tube that allows magma to escape to the surface

33
Q

What is the viscosity of something?

A

How thick something is

34
Q

How are acid volcanoes formed?

A

By viscous lava because it doesn’t flow far. Due to the thickness and low speed, it creates the classic steep sided triangle-like voclano

35
Q

How are basic volcanoes formed?

A

By runny lava which can travel quickly. Due to the thickness and high speed, it makes a shield like volcano

36
Q

How are composite volcanoes formed?

A

By alternative eruptions of ash and lava. Produces a fairly classic triangle-like shape volcano

37
Q

State some primary hazards of volcanoes

A

Lava and pyroclastic flows, lava bombs

38
Q

State some secondary hazards of volcanoes

A

Tsunami, acid rain and lahars

39
Q

What is the scale for how explosive a volcano is?

A

Volcano Explosivity Index

40
Q

What is easier to predict, EQs or volcanoes?

A

Volcanoes

41
Q

What are some warning signs that a volcano may be about to erupt?

A

Change in shape, temperature, amount of gas being released, plant and animal life and earthquake activity

42
Q

State some reasons as to why people live near volcanoes

A

Beauty, renewable energy, tourism, fertile land and ash, poverty and reluctance to move, infrequent eruptions

43
Q

What are diversion channels (volcano preparation)?

A

A channel which attempts to divert lava away from settlements

44
Q

What is cooling lava (volcano preparation)

A

Spraying water (often seawater) onto lava so it solidifies before reaching settlements

45
Q

What are sweeping roofs (volcano preparation)?

A

Sweeping ash off roofs so the house doesn’t collapse

46
Q

What are making evacuation routes (volcano preparation)?

A

Evacuation plans for settlements and the people

47
Q

What are exclusion areas (volcano preparation)?

A

Everyone in this zone will be evacuated in order to protect them

48
Q

What is hazard mapping (volcano preparation)?

A

Stopping settlements being built on hazardous land e.g unstable land right next to a volcano

49
Q

What is monitoring a volcano (volcano preparation)?

A

Constantly looking out for warning signs of the volcano so you can evacuate people if need be

50
Q

What is a volcanic plug (volcano preparation)?

A

Dropping boulders into a vent (Not good as it can build up more pressure)

51
Q

What are short term effects of an EQ or volcano?

A

Death, injury, panic and fear, infrastructure damage, secondary hazards

52
Q

What are long term effects of an EQ or volcano?

A

Homelessness, unemployment, dependency, disease, PTSD, rebuilding costs

YEAR 11 - GEOGRAPHY (THE BEST) (11 decks)

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