Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary concept behind continental drift?

  • Continents were once part of a single supercontinent. (correct)
  • Continents are created by volcanic activity.
  • Continents are fixed and do not move.
  • Continents only move in a linear fashion.

Which geological feature is formed from the collision of two ocean plates?

  • Plateaus
  • Mountain ranges
  • Ocean trenches (correct)
  • Volcanic islands

What causes the Himalayas to continue growing?

  • Volcanic eruptions
  • Rising sea levels
  • Colliding of continental plates (correct)
  • Erosion of surrounding rocks

What landform is produced when tectonic plates separate?

<p>Volcanic islands (A)</p>
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Which example illustrates the collision of ocean and continental plates?

<p>The Andes mountains (C)</p>
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What type of landforms form as a result of colliding continental plates?

<p>Mountain ranges (A)</p>
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What is a characteristic of ocean trenches?

<p>They are deep valleys created by colliding ocean plates. (D)</p>
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Which of the following best describes the movement of Earth's tectonic plates?

<p>They move slowly at several inches per year. (D)</p>
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Flashcards

Continental Drift

The theory that continents were once united in a single supercontinent and have drifted apart over millions of years.

Plate Tectonics

The slow movement of Earth's tectonic plates, causing continents to shift.

Ocean Trench Formation

The collision of two ocean plates, where one plate slides under the other, creating a deep valley in the ocean floor.

Mountain Range Formation

The collision of two continental plates, resulting in the formation of mountain ranges.

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Volcanic Island Formation

The separation of tectonic plates, allowing magma to rise and create volcanic islands.

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Ocean-Continental Plate Collision

The collision of an ocean plate and a continental plate, where the ocean plate slides under the continental plate, leading to mountain range formation.

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Landform Shaping

The process of landforms changing and evolving due to plate movement.

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Plate Boundary

The point where two tectonic plates meet and interact.

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Study Notes

Continental Movement

  • Earth's tectonic plates move slowly, up to several inches per year
  • Continents are part of these plates
  • Continents have travelled great distances, over millions of years
  • This is known as continental drift
  • Alfred Wegener first developed theory of continental drift
  • Wegener observed similarities in coastlines of continents
  • Example: western Africa and Eastern South America
  • Continents are still moving; some collide, others separate, others slide past
  • This movement shapes Earth's landforms

Plate Collisions

  • Collisions create different landforms.
  • Example landforms: ocean trenches, mountain ranges.
  • Two ocean plates colliding: one plate pushes under the other
  • This creates deep valleys in the ocean floor (ocean trenches)
  • Example: Pacific Plate under other plates, creating Mariana Trench
  • Two continental plates colliding: builds up mountains
  • Example: Himalayas in South Asia, from collision of massive plates

Plate Separation

  • Separation of plates allows magma to rise and create landforms
  • Example: volcanic islands such as Surtsey Island near Iceland
  • Ocean plates and continental plates collide: Ocean plate drops below continental plate
  • This creates a mountain range
  • Example: Andes Mountains in South America, from South American and Nazca plates colliding

Landform Formation

  • The collision of plates, or the separation of plates creates landforms, including ocean trenches, mountains, and volcanic islands.
  • The Himalayas are still growing due to continuous plate movement

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