Tectonic Plates and Plate Boundaries

Question 1

Name the thirteen tectonic plates?

Answer 1

North American Plate
Pacific plate
Nazka plate
South American plate
 Cocos plate
Caribbean plate
African plate
Eurasian plate
Arabian plate
Indian plate
Australian plate
Philipines plate
Antarctica plate

Question 2

What happens at a conservative boundary?

Answer 2

1. Two plates are moving in the same direction but at different speeds or they are going in opposite directions at the same speed
2. As the plates slide past each other they snag
3. pressure and tension builds up and the plates lock
4. Eventually the plates break causing a sudden surge forward (earthquake)

Question 3

Name a place where there is a conservative boundary

Answer 3

San Andreas Fault

Question 4

What happens at a collision boundary?

Answer 4

1. Two continental plates crash into each other
2. As they collide they trigger earthquakes
3. The rocks between the plates get pushed up and folded

Question 5

Name places where there are collision boundaries

Answer 5

Mount Everest and the Himalaya’s

Question 6

What happens at a constructive boundary?

Answer 6

1. Two plates move away from each other
2. A gap appears and molten mag arises to fill the gap
3. This solidifies to create new rocks on the seabed

Question 7

Name a constructive boundary

Answer 7

Mid Atlantic Ridge

Question 8

What happens at a destructive boundary?

Answer 8

1. Two plates are pushed together and the heavier (oceanic crust) is subducted beneath the lighter crust (continental crust).
2. The oceanic plate sticks and locks as it tries to slide underneath the continental plate.
3. Heat from friction makes the mantle start to melt the subducted plate (oceanic plate).
4. The melted plate is now hot. Liquid rock called magma rises through the gaps in the continental crust if it reaches the surface the liquid rock causes a volcano.

Question 9

Name a destructive boundary?

Answer 9

Nazca plate and the South American plate