Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Theories

Question 1

What is the lithosphere?

Answer 1

The rigid outer part of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Question 2

What is the asthenosphere?

Answer 2

The semi-fluid layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere.

Question 3

True or False: The lithosphere is more rigid than the asthenosphere.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

What is the main difference between the lithosphere and asthenosphere?

Answer 4

The lithosphere is rigid, while the asthenosphere is semi-fluid.

Question 5

Fill in the blank: The lithosphere consists of the crust and ____________.

Answer 5

Upper mantle

Question 6

Which layer of the Earth is responsible for the movement of tectonic plates?

Answer 6

Asthenosphere

Question 7

What is the temperature range of the asthenosphere?

Answer 7

Approximately 1300 to 2400 degrees Fahrenheit

Question 8

True or False: The asthenosphere is located directly below the lithosphere.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

What physical property allows the lithosphere to move on the asthenosphere?

Answer 9

Flexibility

Question 10

What is the approximate thickness of the lithosphere?

Answer 10

Approximately 100 kilometers

Question 11

Which part of the Earth is more likely to experience earthquakes?

Answer 11

Lithosphere

Question 12

Fill in the blank: The asthenosphere is a ____________ layer of the mantle.

Answer 12

Semi-fluid

Question 13

What type of rock is the lithosphere predominantly made of?

Answer 13

Crystalline rock

Question 14

True or False: The lithosphere is the same thickness throughout the Earth’s surface.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

How does the lithosphere interact with the asthenosphere?

Answer 15

The lithosphere moves on the semi-fluid asthenosphere.

Question 16

What is the driving force behind the movement of tectonic plates?

Answer 16

Convection currents in the asthenosphere

Question 17

True or False: The lithosphere can be subducted beneath the asthenosphere.

Answer 17

True

Question 18

What is the Latin origin of the word ‘asthenosphere’?

Answer 18

From ‘asthenes’ meaning ‘weak’ and ‘sphaira’ meaning ‘sphere’

Question 19

Which layer of the Earth is hotter, the lithosphere or asthenosphere?

Answer 19

Asthenosphere

Question 20

Fill in the blank: The lithosphere is broken into several ____________ plates.

Answer 20

Tectonic

Question 21

What is the primary function of the lithosphere in plate tectonics?

Answer 21

To carry the tectonic plates

Question 22

True or False: The lithosphere is completely solid throughout its entire thickness.

Answer 22

False

Question 23

What is the approximate depth of the asthenosphere?

Answer 23

Approximately 100 to 350 kilometers

Question 24

Which layer of the Earth is more ductile, the lithosphere or asthenosphere?

Answer 24

Asthenosphere

Question 25

Who proposed the theory of continental drift?

Answer 25

Alfred Wegener

Question 26

What was the supercontinent called according to the continental drift theory?

Answer 26

Pangaea

Question 27

What evidence did Alfred Wegener use to support his theory of continental drift?

Answer 27

Fossil evidence, geological evidence, and paleoclimatic evidence

Question 28

What is seafloor spreading?

Answer 28

The process by which new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then moves away from the mid-ocean ridges

Question 29

Where does seafloor spreading occur?

Answer 29

At mid-ocean ridges

Question 30

What is the name of the underwater mountain range where seafloor spreading occurs?

Answer 30

Mid-ocean ridge

Question 31

What drives the movement of the tectonic plates in seafloor spreading?

Answer 31

Convection currents in the mantle

Question 32

What happens to the age of the seafloor as it moves away from the mid-ocean ridge?

Answer 32

It gets older

Question 33

What type of boundary is formed where tectonic plates move apart in seafloor spreading?

Answer 33

Divergent boundary

Question 34

What happens to the seafloor at a subduction zone?

Answer 34

It is recycled back into the mantle

Question 35

What is the name of the process where one tectonic plate is forced under another at a subduction zone?

Answer 35

Subduction

Question 36

What type of boundary is formed where tectonic plates come together at a subduction zone?

Answer 36

Convergent boundary

Question 37

What is the relationship between seafloor spreading and the age of the seafloor?

Answer 37

The youngest seafloor is found near the mid-ocean ridges, and it gets progressively older as it moves away

Question 38

How does the magnetic striping on the seafloor provide evidence for seafloor spreading?

Answer 38

It shows alternating bands of magnetic polarity that match the pattern of reversals in Earth's magnetic field

Question 39

What is the name of the process where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally?

Answer 39

Transform boundary

Question 40

What is the name of the major tectonic plates that are involved in seafloor spreading?

Answer 40

Pacific Plate, North American Plate, Eurasian Plate

Question 41

What is the name of the theory that combines the ideas of continental drift and seafloor spreading?

Answer 41

Plate tectonics theory

Question 42

What is the driving force behind plate tectonics?

Answer 42

The heat generated by radioactive decay in the Earth's interior

Question 43

What are the three types of plate boundaries in plate tectonics theory?

Answer 43

Divergent boundaries, convergent boundaries, transform boundaries

Question 44

What is the name of the boundary where tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally?

Answer 44

Transform boundary

Question 45

What type of boundary is formed when two tectonic plates move apart?

Answer 45

Divergent boundary

Question 46

What type of boundary is formed when two tectonic plates come together?

Answer 46

Convergent boundary

Question 47

What type of boundary is formed when two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally?

Answer 47

Transform boundary

Question 48

What geological feature is associated with a divergent boundary?

Answer 48

Mid-ocean ridge

Question 49

What geological feature is associated with a convergent boundary?

Answer 49

Deep ocean trench

Question 50

What geological feature is associated with a transform boundary?

Answer 50

Fault

Question 51

What is the name of the process where two tectonic plates collide and one is forced under the other?

Answer 51

Subduction

Question 52

What is the name of the boundary where subduction occurs?

Answer 52

Subduction zone

Question 53

What is the name of the process by which new oceanic crust is formed in seafloor spreading?

Answer 53

Sea-floor spreading

Question 54

What is the driving force behind the movement of tectonic plates in plate tectonics theory?

Answer 54

Heat generated by radioactive decay in the Earth's interior

Question 55

What are seismic waves?

Answer 55

Seismic waves are vibrations that travel through the Earth's layers.

Question 56

What are the two main types of seismic waves?

Answer 56

The two main types of seismic waves are body waves and surface waves.

Question 57

Which type of seismic wave travels through the Earth's interior?

Answer 57

Body waves travel through the Earth's interior.

Question 58

What are the two types of body waves?

Answer 58

The two types of body waves are P-waves (primary waves) and S-waves (secondary waves).

Question 59

Which type of body wave is faster and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases?

Answer 59

P-waves are faster and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

Question 60

Which type of body wave is slower and can only travel through solids?

Answer 60

S-waves are slower and can only travel through solids.

Question 61

Which type of seismic wave travels along the Earth's surface?

Answer 61

Surface waves travel along the Earth's surface.

Question 62

What are the two types of surface waves?

Answer 62

The two types of surface waves are Love waves and Rayleigh waves.

Question 63

Which type of surface wave moves in a side-to-side motion?

Answer 63

Love waves move in a side-to-side motion.

Question 64

Which type of surface wave moves in an elliptical motion?

Answer 64

Rayleigh waves move in an elliptical motion.

Question 65

Which type of seismic wave causes the most damage during earthquakes?

Answer 65

Surface waves cause the most damage during earthquakes.

Question 66

Which type of seismic wave is the fastest?

Answer 66

P-waves are the fastest seismic waves.

Question 67

Which type of seismic wave is the slowest?

Answer 67

Surface waves are the slowest seismic waves.

Question 68

Which type of seismic wave is responsible for the most shaking during an earthquake?

Answer 68

S-waves are responsible for the most shaking during an earthquake.

Question 69

How do body waves differ from surface waves in terms of travel path?

Answer 69

Body waves travel through the Earth's interior, while surface waves travel along the Earth's surface.

Question 70

Which type of seismic wave can cause buildings to sway back and forth?

Answer 70

Rayleigh waves can cause buildings to sway back and forth.

Question 71

What is the primary cause of seismic waves?

Answer 71

Seismic waves are primarily caused by the release of energy from tectonic plate movements.

Question 72

What is the study of seismic waves known as?

Answer 72

The study of seismic waves is known as seismology.

Question 73

Which type of seismic wave can travel through both solids and liquids?

Answer 73

P-waves can travel through both solids and liquids.

Question 74

What is the main difference between P-waves and S-waves?

Answer 74

P-waves are compressional waves, while S-waves are shear waves.

Question 75

Which type of seismic wave has the highest amplitude?

Answer 75

Surface waves have the highest amplitude.

Question 76

Which type of seismic wave is most commonly felt by humans during an earthquake?

Answer 76

Surface waves are most commonly felt by humans during an earthquake.

Question 77

What is the speed of seismic waves influenced by?

Answer 77

The speed of seismic waves is influenced by the density and elasticity of the materials they travel through.

Question 78

Which type of seismic wave is responsible for the initial jolt felt during an earthquake?

Answer 78

P-waves are responsible for the initial jolt felt during an earthquake.