The Power of the Planet

Question 1

What is the structure of the Earth

Answer 1

Crust, Mantle, Outer Core and Inner Core

Question 2

Explain why the tectonic plates move and the process of continental drift

Answer 2

Land is moved and pushed upwards by the heat energy from within the earth’s core. Convection currents from the heat in the mantle push against the crust causing it to move

Question 3

Understand how the landform cycle has shaped NZ and the world.

Answer 3

Many landforms are the result of tectonic activity in the Earth. Plate Tectonic plates move and cause earthquakes and volcanic activities. Erosion wears down landforms, breaking down and stripping away the surface rock or soil over time. Deposition is the end result for transportation; the material is deposited in a new location.

Question 4

Uplift

Answer 4

The rising of regions of the Earth’s crust to higher elevations

Question 5

Weathering

Answer 5

Weathering is the breaking down of rock over a long period of time

Chemical Weathering - Caused by rain water reacting with the mineral grains in rocks to form new minerals (clays) and soluble salts. These reactions occur particularly when the water is slightly acidic
Biological Weathering - This is caused when plants or their roots push or pull rocks apart
Physical Weathering - Caused by the effects of changing temperature on rocks, causing the rock to break apart

Question 6

Glacial Erosion

Answer 6

Lateral Moraine - is the rick that has been eroded at the side of the glacier as it advances
Terminal Moraine - is eroded debris that is pushed in from of the glacier and which is deposited at its snout
Medial Moraine - is created where 2 glaciers meet and are found at the centre of the Glacier

Question 7

Fluvial Erosion

Answer 7

Erosion caused by the movement of water

Question 8

Aeolian Erosion

Answer 8

Erosion caused by wind

Question 9

Coastal Erosion

Answer 9

The water contains sand and other materials that grind away at the rock until the cracks become a cave. If the cave is formed in a headland, it may eventually break through to the other side forming an arch.

Question 10

Transportation

Answer 10

The transportation of eroded materials away from their original location

Question 11

Deposition

Answer 11

Deposition is the process by which sediments settle out of the water or wind carrying it.

Question 12

Volcanoes

Answer 12

Shield Volcano - A wide, gently stopping mountains made of layers of lava and formed by quiet eruptions

Cone Volcano - Steep-sided and cone shaped volcanoes made up of alternating layers of lava and ash

Caldera Volcano - The large hole at the top of a volcano formed when the roof a volcano’s magma chamber collapses.

Scoria Volcano - Formed when explosive eruption throws magma into the air which cools to form scoria and settles around the volcanoes mouth

Dome Volcano - Thick lava slowly comes out and just piles up making dome shaped volcano

Question 13

Structure of Earth

Answer 13

Crust - The outer solid rock layer of the earth

Core - Solid iron core surrounded by a molten pool of metals situated at the centre of the Earth’s structure

Mantle - Largest part of the earths structure that is made of solid and molten rock

Question 14

Convection Currents

Answer 14

Currents that are present in magma below the Earth’s crust which are responsible for tectonic plate movement

Question 15

Fiords

Answer 15

Is a long steep walled bay formed when the ocean filled the lower ends of the glacier valley

Question 16

Braided Rivers

Answer 16

A network of river channels separated by small, often temporary, islands which is formed when rocks and sediment build up on the riverbed. In time the build-up becomes so high that the water, seeking the lowest path, begins to flow down a new channel.

Question 17

Tectonic Plates

Answer 17

The large sections into which the earth’s crust is broken

Question 18

Continental Drift

Answer 18

The theory that supports the gradual movement of the continents across the earth’s surface

Question 19

Subduction

Answer 19

The process by which the ocean floor sinks beneath a deep-ocean trench and back into the mantle

Question 20

Magma

Answer 20

Molten rock beneath the earth’s surface

Question 21

Oceanic and Continental Crust

Answer 21

Oceanic Crust - the relatively thin part of the earth’s crust that underlines the ocean basins - covers 91% of the Earth’s surface

Continental Crust - the relatively thick of the earth’s crust that forms the large landmasses

Question 22

Different types of plate movement

Answer 22

Constructive Plate Movement - When the plates move apart, magma rises up from the mantle and solidifies creating new crust (sea-floor spreading)

Destructive Plate Movement - When an oceanic plate and a continental plate collide, the heavier oceanic plate is forced under the continental plate

Conservative Plate Movement - When two plates move sideways against each other

Collision Plate Movement - When two continental plates collide, mountain ranges are formed as the colliding crust is compressed and forced upwards