Quarter 2 (Plate Tectonics, Layers of Earth)

Question 1

What is the theory of Plate Tectonics?

Answer 1

The theory of Plate Tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions on Earth’s lithosphere; theory of continental drift.

Question 2

What causes the plates to move?

Answer 2

Plates at our planets surface move because of the intense heat in the Earth’s core that causes molten rock in the mantle layer to move due to convection currents.

Question 3

What is a convergent boundary?

Answer 3

Convergent Boundaries
• Occurs where plates push together
• Can be Continental to Continental, Continental to Oceanic, & Oceanic to Oceanic
Continental to Continental
• Same Density
• Forms Mountains
Oceanic to Oceanic
• One plate subducts beneath one another
•Forms Deep Ocean Trenches & Island Archs
Continental to Continental
• Occurs when ocean crest sinks under Continental crust
• Forms deep ocean trenches & coastal mountains

Question 4

What features are found along a convergent boundary?

Answer 4

Mountains, Deep Ocean Trenches, & Island Archs, Volcanos

Question 5

What is a divergent boundary?

Answer 5

Divergent Boundaries
• Occurs where plates move apart
• Most of these boundaries are found in the ocean
• Mid Ocean Ridges are a good example of divergent boundaries

Question 6

What features are found along divergent boundaries?

Answer 6

Mid-Ocean Ridges

Question 7

What is a transform boundary?

Answer 7

Transform boundaries occur when plates scrape past each other. Occurs on sea-floors near mid-ocean ridges. A land example is the San-Andreas fault in California

Question 8

What is the only feature of transform boundaries?

Answer 8

Crust is neither made nor destroyed

Question 9

What is a fault?

Answer 9

A fault is a fracture in Earth’s lithosphere

Question 10

The San Andreas Fault in California is an example of what type of plate boundary?

Answer 10

Transform Boundary

Question 11

What is subduction?

Answer 11

When one plate sinks beneath another

Question 12

Along which type of plate boundary does subduction occur?

Answer 12

Convergent Boundary

Question 13

Where do most earthquakes occur?

Answer 13

On the edges of the Pacific Ocean

Question 14

What type of boundary creates new oceanic crust?

Answer 14

Divergent Boundaries

Question 15

What type of boundary destroys oceanic crust?

Answer 15

Convergent Boundaries

Question 16

What type of boundary neither creates nor destroys oceanic crust?

Answer 16

Transform Boundaries

Question 17

In your own words state the theory of plate tectonics?

Answer 17

Plates that make up Earth’s lithosphere move over Earth’s surface

Question 18

Describe what happens when two plates carrying oceanic crust collide.

Answer 18

The older plate carrying oceanic crust sinks because it is denser

Question 19

Describe what happens when 2 plates carrying continental crust collide.

Answer 19

Both crust don’t sink because they have the same density.If they keep moving, the edges crumple & fold. In some cases this creates mountains.

Question 20

Describe what happens when a plate carrying oceanic crust collide with a plate carrying continental crust.

Answer 20

The oceanic crust sinks because it is colder & denser than the continental crust.

Question 21

Explain what force caused the movement of the continents from one supercontinent to their present conditions.

Answer 21

Convection Currents in the Asthenosphere cause the plate tectonics to move.

Question 22

Breaks in the Earth’s Crust where rocks have slipped past each other are called __________.

Answer 22

faults

Question 23

The lithosphere is broken into separate sections called ______________.

Answer 23

Tectonic Plates

Question 24

A ___________ is a deep valley on land that forms along a divergent boundary.

Answer 24

Rift Valley

Question 25

The geological theory that states that pieces of Earth’s crust are in constant, slow motion called __________________________.

Answer 25

The theory of plate tectonics.