Tectonic Plate Movement Flashcards
Where are diverging plates found on Earth?
Diverging plate boundaries are mostly found between oceanic plates and exist as mid-oceanic ridges.
Identify the name of the place where two plates slide past each other.
When two plates rub past each other, the place where they meet is a transform fault.
Which plate is India found on?
India is on the Indian plate.
What type of plate boundary is associated with ocean trenches?
Convergent plate boundaries.
The Earth’s surface has moving plates, what are they moving on?
They are floating on the Earth’s mantle, which is essentially thick, hot, flowing rock.
What is the difference between oceanic and continental plates?
Continental plates are much thicker than oceanic plates. When they meet at convergent boundaries, the continental plates are pushed upwards. Continental plates are also less thick, and keep their shape longer than oceanic plates, as many of the continental plates are proven to be far older than the oceanic ones.
What is a lithosphere?
The outer part of the earth, consisting of both the crust and the upper mantle.
What is the asthenosphere?
Located below the lithosphere, the asthenosphere consists of the Earth’s upper mantle, and convection is thought to occur in it.
At which type of plate boundary are the Earths major earthquakes most likely to occur?
Convergent plate boundaries.
What causes the plates to move?
Earths plates move due to convection currents. Under the earth’s crust there are currents that are constantly moving, which force tectonic plates to move up side against each other or slide on top of each other.
What happens when a plate converges?
When two plates collide together it is called a convergent boundary. The impact of the colliding plates cause mountain ranges and deep-sea trenches. Volcanoes are likely to form along these lines. Earthquake along convergent boundaries are very powerful.
What happens when a plate divides?
A divergent boundary is where two plates move away from each other. Along these boundaries magma from the mantle rises to the crust to form new crust.
