Plate Tectonics

Question 1

Describe and differentiate between the Lithosphere and the asthenosphere?

Answer 1

Lithosphere- the outer shell of the Earth consisting of the crust and uppermost portion of the mantle
Asthenosphere- the partially melted layer of the mantle that underlies the lithosphere

Question 2

List the five key pieces of evidence cited by Alfred Wegener supporting his theory of Continental drift

Answer 2

1) shapes matched
2) fossils matched
3) Rocks matched
4) glacial striations match
5) ancient climate evidence does not match current

Question 3

Name two continents that fit together very well

Answer 3

South America and africa

Question 4

Why do the coastlines not fit together perfectly?

Answer 4

erosion

Question 5

Why was Wegener’s theory of continental drift not accepted?

Answer 5

it was difficult to believe that the continents moved through the solid rock of the sea floor

Question 6

Differentiate between the theory of continental drift and plate tectonics

Answer 6

continental drift- a hypothesis that Earth’s continents move on Earth’s surface
Plate tectonics- the theory that the lithosphere is made of plates that move and interact with each other at their boundaries

Question 7

What geological events provide evidence for plate tectonics and helps to identify plate boundaries

Answer 7

earthquakes and volcanoes

Question 8

List the 5 plate boundaries and a resulting feature and a location where it occurs

Answer 8

Converging- Oceanic to Oceanic- island arc, Japan
Converging- Oceanic to Continental- volcanoes, andes mountains
Continental to continental- mountains, himalayan mountains
Diverging- mid ocean ridge, Rift Valley, mid atlantic ridge East African rift
Transform- fault, San Andreas fault

Question 9

What are the three pieces of evidence for sea floor spreading?

Answer 9

rock similarities
fossils
how the continents fit together

Question 10

What is a rift?

Answer 10

a crack or opening in earth’s crust

Question 11

At what type of plate boundary is a Rift Valley found?

Answer 11

Diverging

Question 12

Differentiate between a collision boundary zone and a subduction boundary zone.

Answer 12

collision- plates collide and fold into mountains

subduction- plates collide, one subjects below

Question 13

Collision and subduction are both examples of what major boundary type?

Answer 13

Converging

Question 14

Why, at a subduction boundary, does one plate over-ride the other?

Answer 14

because one is less dense than the other

Question 15

Which typeof plate never subducts?

Answer 15

continental

Question 16

What drives plate tectonics?

Answer 16

the lithosphere

Question 17

True or False. Pangea began to break up about 200mya. Today the plates have all separated and in fixed positions.

Answer 17

False. They are not in fixed positions

Question 18

Name and area of high heat flow

Answer 18

the ring of fire

Question 19

Are fossils living things?

Answer 19

they once were

Question 20

The fossil record of the prehistoric lizard Mesosaurus, was found on which two continents?

Answer 20

South America and Africa

Question 21

Where would you find a trench?

Answer 21

A converging subduction boundary

Question 22

How did the Hawaiian Islands chain of sea mounts form?

Answer 22

they were over a hot spot