Tectonic Plates

Question 1

what is the core of the earth

Answer 1

a ball of solid (inner layer) and liquid (outer layer) iron and nickel

Question 2

what surrounds or is around the core of the earth and what is it

Answer 2

• the mantle is the next layer from the core

- it is semi-molten rock that moves very slowly

Question 3

what is the most outer layer of the earth

Answer 3

the crust

Question 4

what is the crust divided into

Answer 4

• several slabs of tectonic plates

- which float on the mantle

Question 5

what are the two types of crust that plates are made up of

Answer 5

oceanic and continental

Question 6

what are the differences between oceanic and continental crust in terms of thickness

Answer 6

• continental crust if 30 to 50 km thick
• oceanic crust is 5 to 10 km thick
• so continental crust is thicker

Question 7

what are the differences between oceanic and continental crust in terms of density

Answer 7

• oceanic crust is denser than continental crust

- due to being more compressed and compact

Question 8

why do tectonic plates move

Answer 8

because of the convection currents in the mantle beneath the crust

Question 9

what are plate margins and what is the other name for them

Answer 9

• plate margins are where tow or more tectonic plates meet

- they are also called plate boundaries

Question 10

what are the three types of plate margins

Answer 10

• destructive margins
• constructive margins
• conservative margins

Question 11

what are destructive margins and what is a real world example of them

Answer 11

• they are margins where two plates are moving towards each other
• an example is the margin along the west coast of south america

Question 12

how are destructive margins formed

Answer 12

• when an oceanic plate meets a continental plate

- the denser oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle and destroyed

Question 13

what do destructive margins form

Answer 13

• volcanoes and ocean trenches
• ocean trenches are very deep sections of the ocean floor where the oceanic plate goes down
• mountain ranges are also formed when the plates collide and the ground is folded and forced upwards

Question 14

what are constructive margins and what is an example of them

Answer 14

• they are margins where two plates are moving away from each other
• an example is the margin at the mid-altantic ridge

Question 15

what do constructive margins form and how

Answer 15

• the magma rises from the mantle to fill the gap and cools

- creating new crust

Question 16

what are conservative margins and what is an example of them

Answer 16

• they are margins where two plates are moving sideways past each other
• or are moving in the same direction but at different speeds
• an example is the margin along the west coast of the USA

Question 17

do conservative margins form any structures and why

Answer 17

• no crust is created or destroyed

- due to the parallel movement of the plates

Question 18

what is the order of the layers of the earth starting from the inside

Answer 18

• the inner core (mainly iron)
• the outer core (mainly nickel)
• the mantle (molten rock)
• the crust (thin layer of cool rock)