Unit 7: Plate Tectonics

Question 1

Continental Crust

Answer 1

thicker part of Earth’s crust that forms the large land masses

Question 2

Convergent boundary

Answer 2

two plates coming together (COLLIDING)

Question 3

Divergent boundary

Answer 3

two plates moving apart (DIVIDING)

Question 4

Geologic event

Answer 4

a change to the structure of the Earth by tectonic activities

Question 5

Mid-ocean ridge

Answer 5

undersea mountain range formed where two parts of the Earth’s crust are moving apart

Question 6

Ocean basin

Answer 6

large bowl shaped depression that holds ocean water; regions of crust below sea level

Question 7

Oceanic crust

Answer 7

thinner part of Earth’s crust that lies underneath the ocean basins

Question 8

Plate

Answer 8

distinct sections of the lithosphere which make up the outermost layer of the Earth

Question 9

Plate boundary

Answer 9

a region where two lithospheric plates meet

Question 10

Sea-floor spreading

Answer 10

formation of new oceanic crust due to the upwelling of magma at mid-ocean ridges

Question 11

Subduction

Answer 11

process where one plate slides under another

Question 12

Tectonics

Answer 12

study of the movement of large masses of rock, known as plates, on the Earth’s surface; includes folds, faults, and plate movement

Question 13

Theory

Answer 13

an explanation of a set of related observations or events based upon proven hypotheses and verified multiple times by groups of detached researchers; can be used to explain and predict natural phenomena

Question 14

Theory of plate tectonics

Answer 14

theory that describes plate movement and how it affects Earth’s geologic features

Question 15

Transform boundary

Answer 15

two plates sliding past each other in opposite directions (SLIDING)

Question 16

Alfred Wegener

Answer 16

German scientist who proposed the theory of continental drift