Earth Science: Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics
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Questions and Answers

At which geological feature is new oceanic crust generated?

  • Subduction zones
  • Mid-ocean ridges (correct)
  • Continental margins
  • Transform faults

    • What is the typical thickness range of continental crust?

  • 10 to 15 km
  • 35 to 45 km (correct)
  • 60 to 70 km
  • 1 to 2 km

    • Which statement about subduction zones is correct?

  • They are always found at mid-ocean ridges.
  • They are associated with volcanic activity. (correct)
  • They only occur between two continental plates.
  • They do not experience earthquakes.

    • Which of the following best describes a convergent plate boundary?

    <p>One plate is forced under another.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature is commonly associated with mid-ocean ridges?

    <p>High volcanic activity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What evidence supports the movement of tectonic plates?

    <p>Magnetic anomalies on the ocean floor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many major tectonic plates are generally recognized?

    <p>7 to 15</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which volcanic feature is more likely associated with explosive eruptions?

    <p>A caldera</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature is NOT typically found along transform fault boundaries?

    <p>Volcanic eruptions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature is NOT typically associated with a shield volcano?

    <p>Stratovolcanos</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of eruption is characterized as explosive?

    <p>Plinian eruptions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about continental and oceanic crust is correct?

    <p>Continental crust is generally thicker than oceanic crust.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be concluded about the crustal thickness between Michigan and Tibet?

    <p>The crust at Michigan is thinner than that at Tibet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Compared to a shield volcano, a stratovolcano is generally considered to be:

    <p>Steeper</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key indicator of an oceanic hotspot?

    <p>Volcanic activity being concentrated at one end of a linear island chain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are the primary layers of the Earth organized from the inside out?

    <p>Crust, mantle, core</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which natural disaster has caused the most fatalities in the last century?

    <p>Earthquakes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement regarding calderas is incorrect?

    <p>Calderas do not have a defined shape</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor does NOT contribute to explosive volcanic eruptions?

    <p>Low viscosity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a major plate in plate tectonics?

    <p>A continent-size surface block of the Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the typical thickness of a tectonic plate?

    <p>100 km</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The volume of a typical flood basalt province is approximately:

    <p>10^8 km3</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What criterion is used to determine the boundaries between Earth's crust, mantle, and core?

    <p>Seismic wave velocities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What forms the basis for distinguishing lithosphere from asthenosphere?

    <p>Mechanical properties, especially whether the layer may flow</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following causes of earthquakes is NOT related to geological processes?

    <p>Meteorite impact</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary factor that induces soil liquefaction?

    <p>Seismic waves from earthquakes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is resonance achieved during an earthquake?

    <p>When the earthquake's frequency matches the building's natural frequency</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about P-waves and S-waves is correct?

    <p>P-waves can travel through liquid, but S-waves cannot</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are earthquake hazard maps not the same as global earthquake distribution?

    <p>They consider local geological conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about earthquake waves is incorrect?

    <p>S-waves can be detected in the outer core</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What differentiates the epicenter from the hypocenter of an earthquake?

    <p>The epicenter is the point directly above the hypocenter on the surface</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Richter magnitude scale measure?

    <p>The energy released at the source</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Mercalli intensity scale primarily measure?

    <p>Local destruction and how it is felt by people.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the type of ground affect the shaking experienced during an earthquake?

    <p>The type of ground can amplify shaking near the epicenter.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the surface temperature of the Earth approximately?

    <p>300 K</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary composition of the Earth's core?

    <p>Iron metal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an indicator that a tsunami may be approaching?

    <p>The ocean water rapidly recedes from the beach.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily causes a tsunami?

    <p>Sudden displacement of a large body of water.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the average traveling speed of a tsunami when the ocean water depth is 5500 m?

    <p>323 m/s</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which events can induce a tsunami?

    <p>Submarine landslides and earthquakes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary cause of most deaths in the 2004 Sumatra earthquake?

    <p>Tsunami.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which observation confirms that the outer core is liquid?

    <p>The observed distribution pattern of the S-wave shadow for earthquakes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If the time interval between S and P arrivals is 40 seconds and amplitude is 50 mm, what is the Richter magnitude?

    <ol start="6"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

    Which planetary body is considered the most volcanically active in our solar system?

    <p>Jupiter's satellite Io.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the energy difference if the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) differs by 2?

    <p>About a factor of 20.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If the magnitude of an earthquake differs by 2, what is the energy difference?

    <p>A factor of 1000.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which planetary body has the highest volcano in the solar system?

    <p>Mars.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Earth Science Study Notes

    • Earthquake Characteristics:

      • Earthquakes are among the deadliest natural phenomena in the past 100 years
      • Plate tectonics cause earthquakes
      • Major plates are continent-sized blocks
      • Plates typically have a thickness of 100 km

    • Earth Layers:

      • The Earth's layers, from inside out, are the core, mantle, and crust
      • Different layers have varying chemical compositions, mineral phases, and states (solid or liquid)
      • The boundaries are based on seismic wave velocities, temperature, and pressure

    • Plate Boundaries:

      • Mid-ocean ridges, collision zones of continents, and subduction zones are all plate boundaries
      • Transform faults are also plate boundaries
      • Mid-ocean ridges are where new crust is generated
      • Subduction zones are where one plate moves below another
      • Transform faults are where plates slide past each other

    • Earthquake Locations:

      • Earthquakes occur most frequently at plate boundaries, but they can also occur within plates (intraplate earthquakes)
      • Mid-ocean ridges, subduction zones, and transform faults are common earthquake locations

    • Earthquake Types and Effects:

      • Earthquakes cause shaking, ground deformation, and related hazards (landslides, tsunamis)
      • Volcanic eruptions can also produce earthquakes
      • Explosive eruptions are linked with higher magma volumes and higher temperature
      • Frequency of earthquakes and associated deaths are important considerations

    • Earthquake Measurements:

      • Richter magnitude measures the size of an earthquake
      • Mercalli intensity measures the local effects of an earthquake
      • Explosive eruptions are linked with large eruption volumes
      • Explosive eruptions release more energy than smaller ones
      • The differences in seismic behaviour are used to distinguish earthquakes and nuclear explosions

    • Tsunami:

      • Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and submarine landslides can cause tsunamis
      • Tsunamis cause massive devastation, especially near coastlines
      • The velocity of a tsunami depends on the depth of the water column it travels through

    • Seismic Waves:

      • Earthquakes produce seismic waves
      • Seismic waves travel through the Earth's interior and on the surface
      • Seismic waves are used to study the Earth's interior structure.
      • P-waves (primary waves) are the fastest kind of seismic waves. They travel through solids, liquids, and gases.
      • S-waves (secondary waves) travel only through solids. They are slower than P-waves.
      • Surface waves travel along the Earth's surface. They are the slowest kind of seismic waves and cause the most damage during earthquakes.

    • Volcanic Eruptions and Volcanic Features:

      • Volcanic eruptions create a range of features like volcanic craters, calderas, cinder cones, and lava domes
      • Size and features of a volcano differ based on the composition of magma
      • Stratovolcanoes are among the largest, but they are also associated with the highest levels of explosiveness
      • Flood basalt provinces are among the largest volcanic features

    • Oceanic Hotspots:

      • Volcanic activity can occur at hotspots in the Earth's interior
      • Some hotspot volcanoes create chains of islands
      • The age of the islands increase as distance increases from the volcanically active island

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    Description

    Explore the fascinating world of earthquakes and the dynamics of plate tectonics. This quiz covers key concepts such as earthquake characteristics, the layers of the Earth, and different types of plate boundaries. Test your knowledge on where earthquakes occur and their impact on our planet.

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