11 Questions
What type of boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other?
Divergent boundary
Which boundary type involves tectonic plates sliding past each other without going up or down?
Transform boundary
In which fault does the Pacific Plate slide past the North American Plate, causing earthquakes?
San Andreas Fault
What is the process by which tectonic plates move due to the heat-driven circulation of molten rock in the mantle?
Plate movement
Name one famous example of a natural consequence of plate boundaries and its location.
Himalaya Mountain Range (Indian/Eurasian)
What are the three main layers of the Earth?
The three main layers of the Earth are the crust, mantle, and core.
What are the two types of Earth's crust?
The two types of Earth's crust are oceanic and continental.
Describe the difference between the upper and lower mantle.
The upper mantle is cooler, with the upper parts being solid and lower parts liquid. The lower mantle is hotter and completely liquid.
What is the role of the outer core?
The outer core is liquid and creates the Earth's magnetic field.
What was the name of the ancient landmass that once joined all tectonic plates?
The ancient landmass that once joined all tectonic plates was called Pangea.
What causes the movement of tectonic plates, known as continental drift?
The movement of tectonic plates, or continental drift, is caused by convection currents in the mantle.
Study Notes
Structure of the Earth
- The Earth is divided into three main sections: Crust, Mantle, and Core.
- The heaviest elements, such as iron and nickel, sink farther into the lithosphere.
Crust
- The Crust is the uppermost layer, divided into two types: Oceanic and Continental.
- Oceanic Crust is below sea level, colder, and denser.
- Continental Crust is above sea level, hotter, and less dense.
Mantle
- The Mantle is the middle layer, divided into two parts: Upper and Lower.
- The Upper Mantle is cooler, with solid upper parts and liquid lower parts.
- The Lower Mantle is hotter, entirely liquid.
Core
- The Core is the innermost layer, divided into two parts: Outer and Inner.
- The Outer Core is liquid, responsible for creating the Earth's magnetic field.
- The Inner Core is solid, under huge pressure, and consists of a huge metal ball.
Pangea and Tectonic Plates
- Pangea was a large land mass that consisted of all the tectonic plates joined together.
- There are 7 major and 12-15 total tectonic plates that float on the Mantle and drift due to Convection Currents.
- Convection Currents are cycles of heat transfer that cause particles to rise and fall, resulting in plate movement.
Plate Boundaries
- Plate boundaries are areas where tectonic plates meet.
- There are three types of plate boundaries: Convergent, Divergent, and Transform.
- Convergent boundaries occur when plates move towards each other, resulting in trenches, mountain ranges, and volcanoes.
- Divergent boundaries occur when plates move away from each other, resulting in trenches, ridges, and volcanoes.
- Transform boundaries slide past each other without vertical movement, resulting in earthquakes.
Examples of Plate Boundaries
- Himalaya Mountain Range (Indian/Eurasian plates, Convergent)
- Mid-Atlantic Ridge (North American/Eurasian plates, Divergent)
- San Andreas Fault (Pacific/North American plates, Transform)
Explore the main ideas related to the sections of the Earth's crust, including the oceanic and continental crust, mantle, and core. Learn about Pangea, tectonic plates, plate movements, convection currents, continental drift, and plate boundaries. Dive into extra resources like notes from textbooks or lectures.
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