Tectonics Flashcards
What is the theory of plate tectonics?
The theory that Earth’s outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle.
True or False: The Earth’s lithosphere is made up of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.
True
Fill in the blank: The movement of tectonic plates is driven by __________.
convection currents in the mantle
What are the three main types of plate boundaries?
Divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.
Which type of plate boundary is characterized by plates moving away from each other?
Divergent boundary
What geological features are commonly formed at convergent boundaries?
Mountain ranges, deep ocean trenches, and volcanic arcs.
Multiple choice: Which of the following is NOT a type of tectonic plate boundary? A) Divergent B) Convergent C) Oblique D) Transform
C) Oblique
What is subduction?
The process where one tectonic plate moves under another plate and sinks into the mantle.
True or False: Transform boundaries are associated with earthquakes.
True
What is the Ring of Fire?
A major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the layer of the Earth that is semi-fluid and allows tectonic plates to move.
asthenosphere
What type of fault is formed at transform boundaries?
Strike-slip fault
Multiple choice: Which plate is the largest tectonic plate? A) North American Plate B) Eurasian Plate C) Pacific Plate D) African Plate
C) Pacific Plate
What is a hotspot?
A location where a plume of hot material from the mantle creates volcanic activity independent of plate boundaries.
True or False: The Himalayas were formed by the collision of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
True
What is the primary cause of earthquakes?
The sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust due to tectonic plate movements.
Fill in the blank: The __________ theory explains the movement of continents over geological time.
continental drift
What are mid-ocean ridges?
Underwater mountain ranges formed by plate tectonics at divergent boundaries.
Multiple choice: Which of the following is a characteristic of convergent boundaries? A) Earthquakes B) Volcanic activity C) Mountain building D) All of the above
D) All of the above
What is a tectonic plate?
A massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock that makes up the Earth’s lithosphere.
True or False: The San Andreas Fault is an example of a divergent boundary.
False
What is the significance of the Moho layer?
It is the boundary between the Earth’s crust and the underlying mantle.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is a scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.
Richter scale
What are the two types of crust in plate tectonics?
Continental crust and oceanic crust.
Multiple choice: The theory that continents were once joined together is known as A) Plate Tectonics B) Continental Drift C) Sea-Floor Spreading D) Subduction
B) Continental Drift
What is the primary geological activity at transform boundaries?
Earthquakes due to the sliding of plates past one another.
True or False: Oceanic crust is generally thicker than continental crust.
False
