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Questions and Answers
What is the name of the instrument that records earthquakes and helps locate the epicenter?
What is the name of the instrument that records earthquakes and helps locate the epicenter?
Which geological term refers to the point on Earth’s surface directly above the point of an earthquake's origin?
Which geological term refers to the point on Earth’s surface directly above the point of an earthquake's origin?
What are large cracks in the ground associated with earthquakes called?
What are large cracks in the ground associated with earthquakes called?
In which type of plate boundary do two tectonic plates move away from each other?
In which type of plate boundary do two tectonic plates move away from each other?
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What geological feature is typically associated with convergent boundaries where plates move towards each other?
What geological feature is typically associated with convergent boundaries where plates move towards each other?
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What is the primary type of rock formed beneath lava at mid-ocean ridges?
What is the primary type of rock formed beneath lava at mid-ocean ridges?
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What do we call the geological process when one oceanic plate is forced beneath another at a convergent boundary?
What do we call the geological process when one oceanic plate is forced beneath another at a convergent boundary?
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Which type of plate boundary is exemplified by the San Andreas Fault?
Which type of plate boundary is exemplified by the San Andreas Fault?
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Why are volcanoes generally absent at continent-continent convergent boundaries?
Why are volcanoes generally absent at continent-continent convergent boundaries?
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What term describes a line of volcanoes formed as a result of an oceanic plate subducting beneath another plate?
What term describes a line of volcanoes formed as a result of an oceanic plate subducting beneath another plate?
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How long is the San Andreas Fault?
How long is the San Andreas Fault?
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Which two tectonic plates interact along the San Andreas Fault?
Which two tectonic plates interact along the San Andreas Fault?
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What term describes the process whereby supercontinents form and disperse?
What term describes the process whereby supercontinents form and disperse?
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What geological activity is most characteristic of intraplate volcanic regions?
What geological activity is most characteristic of intraplate volcanic regions?
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What type of volcano is primarily formed above the Hawaiian hotspot?
What type of volcano is primarily formed above the Hawaiian hotspot?
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What process leads to the growth of oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges?
What process leads to the growth of oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges?
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How long is a complete cycle of supercontinent formation believed to take?
How long is a complete cycle of supercontinent formation believed to take?
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What type of geological activity typically occurs in subduction zones?
What type of geological activity typically occurs in subduction zones?
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What geophysical force is primarily responsible for the movement of lithospheric plates?
What geophysical force is primarily responsible for the movement of lithospheric plates?
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What geological feature was formed as a result of the Pacific and North American plates interacting?
What geological feature was formed as a result of the Pacific and North American plates interacting?
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What geological process is responsible for the Pacific Ocean shrinking over time?
What geological process is responsible for the Pacific Ocean shrinking over time?
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What effect does the formation of new oceanic crust at a mid-ocean ridge have on older seafloor?
What effect does the formation of new oceanic crust at a mid-ocean ridge have on older seafloor?
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Which type of boundary is predominantly associated with the creation of new oceanic lithosphere?
Which type of boundary is predominantly associated with the creation of new oceanic lithosphere?
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In which geological setting would you most likely find a hotspot?
In which geological setting would you most likely find a hotspot?
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What type of magma-related process is primarily observed at subduction zones beneath oceanic plates?
What type of magma-related process is primarily observed at subduction zones beneath oceanic plates?
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How does mantle convection contribute to plate tectonics?
How does mantle convection contribute to plate tectonics?
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What geological feature is formed primarily by the collision of two continental plates?
What geological feature is formed primarily by the collision of two continental plates?
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What is the typical geological process occurring at transform boundaries?
What is the typical geological process occurring at transform boundaries?
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What distinguishes the lithosphere from the asthenosphere?
What distinguishes the lithosphere from the asthenosphere?
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What feature is typically created due to the interaction between the Pacific and North American plates?
What feature is typically created due to the interaction between the Pacific and North American plates?
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What type of plate boundary is characterized by two tectonic plates sliding past each other?
What type of plate boundary is characterized by two tectonic plates sliding past each other?
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Which feature is primarily formed as a result of seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges?
Which feature is primarily formed as a result of seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges?
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In a convergent boundary where two oceanic plates collide, what geological feature is likely to form?
In a convergent boundary where two oceanic plates collide, what geological feature is likely to form?
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What is the primary geological feature formed when an oceanic plate subducts beneath a continental plate?
What is the primary geological feature formed when an oceanic plate subducts beneath a continental plate?
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What is the geological significance of the Himalayan mountain range?
What is the geological significance of the Himalayan mountain range?
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What occurs at a divergent boundary when two tectonic plates move apart?
What occurs at a divergent boundary when two tectonic plates move apart?
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Which type of boundary is characterized by the formation of islands due to volcanic activity above subducting oceanic plates?
Which type of boundary is characterized by the formation of islands due to volcanic activity above subducting oceanic plates?
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Why do continent-continent convergent boundaries often result in significant mountain ranges rather than volcanic activity?
Why do continent-continent convergent boundaries often result in significant mountain ranges rather than volcanic activity?
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What generally characterizes the geological features formed at subduction zones?
What generally characterizes the geological features formed at subduction zones?
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What geological feature is commonly formed at divergent plate boundaries?
What geological feature is commonly formed at divergent plate boundaries?
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What is formed when seafloor spreading occurs at mid-ocean ridges?
What is formed when seafloor spreading occurs at mid-ocean ridges?
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What process typically results from the collision of two oceanic plates?
What process typically results from the collision of two oceanic plates?
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What type of boundary is formed when two plates collide, causing significant geological uplift?
What type of boundary is formed when two plates collide, causing significant geological uplift?
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What typically occurs as a result of oceanic-continental plate convergence?
What typically occurs as a result of oceanic-continental plate convergence?
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Which type of crustal plates are responsible for the formation of earthquake-prone fault lines?
Which type of crustal plates are responsible for the formation of earthquake-prone fault lines?
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Which feature is generally found along subduction zones?
Which feature is generally found along subduction zones?
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What results when two continental plates collide?
What results when two continental plates collide?
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What is a geological characteristic of transform boundaries?
What is a geological characteristic of transform boundaries?
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What happens at convergent boundaries where an oceanic plate meets another oceanic plate?
What happens at convergent boundaries where an oceanic plate meets another oceanic plate?
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What geological process creates new seafloor at mid-ocean ridges?
What geological process creates new seafloor at mid-ocean ridges?
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What is the geological term for the asynchronous movement along a fault line that can trigger earthquakes?
What is the geological term for the asynchronous movement along a fault line that can trigger earthquakes?
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What type of volcanic activity is typical above a hotspot?
What type of volcanic activity is typical above a hotspot?
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How does sedimentary rock form at a continent-continent convergent boundary due to stress?
How does sedimentary rock form at a continent-continent convergent boundary due to stress?
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What occurs during the supercontinent cycle?
What occurs during the supercontinent cycle?
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What natural disaster is most commonly associated with convergent plate boundaries?
What natural disaster is most commonly associated with convergent plate boundaries?
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Which geological feature is primarily produced from the interaction of oceanic and continental plates?
Which geological feature is primarily produced from the interaction of oceanic and continental plates?
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What is the name of the process whereby two oceanic plates converge leading to the formation of island arcs?
What is the name of the process whereby two oceanic plates converge leading to the formation of island arcs?
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What is the typical composition of magma that is formed at subduction zones beneath oceanic plates?
What is the typical composition of magma that is formed at subduction zones beneath oceanic plates?
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How long is one complete cycle of supercontinent formation believed to take?
How long is one complete cycle of supercontinent formation believed to take?
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Study Notes
Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics
- Seismograph: Instrument that detects and records earthquakes.
- Epicenter: Point on Earth's surface directly above the earthquake's focus.
- Focus: Point within Earth where an earthquake originates.
- Faults: Large cracks in the Earth's crust where earthquakes occur.
Plate Boundaries
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Divergent Boundaries: Plates move apart, creating new crust.
- Mid-ocean Ridges: Form at divergent boundaries where new oceanic crust is created.
- Seafloor Spreading: Process of creating new ocean floor at mid-ocean ridges.
- Basalt: Igneous rock primarily found at mid-ocean ridges.
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Convergent Boundaries: Plates collide.
- Subduction: Process where one plate slides beneath another.
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Volcanoes: Form above subducting plates, commonly found in island arcs.
- Island Arcs: Chain of volcanic islands formed at convergent boundaries.
- Mountains: Form when continental plates collide.
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Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other.
- San Andreas Fault: Example of a transform boundary.
Plate Tectonics History
- Pangaea: Supercontinent that existed before continents drifted apart.
-
Supercontinent Cycle: Continents forming and breaking up over time.
- Cycle Length: Estimated to be around 500 million years.
Geological Activity
- Pacific Ocean: Earth's most geologically active region today.
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Intraplate Activity: Geological activity that occurs away from plate boundaries.
- Hawaiian Islands: Famous example of intraplate volcanic activity.
- Shield Volcanoes: Type of volcano found in Hawaii due to hotspot activity.
- Mantle Convection: Force that drives the movement of tectonic plates.
Plate Boundary Summary
- Divergent: New crust created, characterized by mid-ocean ridges and seafloor spreading.
- Convergent: Crust is destroyed, characterized by subduction zones, volcanoes, and mountains.
- Transform: Plates slide past each other, characterized by earthquakes.
Earthquakes
- A seismograph is used to record earthquakes and determine the epicenter, the point on Earth's surface directly above where the earthquake originates.
- The focus is the point underground where the earthquake originates.
- Faults are large cracks in the Earth's surface associated with earthquakes.
- Plate tectonics is the theory that explains the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates, which are responsible for many geological phenomena, including earthquakes and volcanoes.
Plate Boundaries
-
Divergent Plate Boundaries: Plates move away from each other.
- Mid-ocean ridges form where new oceanic lithosphere is created.
- Basalt, a type of igneous rock, is formed at mid-ocean ridges.
-
Convergent Plate Boundaries: Plates move towards each other.
- Subduction occurs when one oceanic plate plunges beneath another.
- Volcanoes often form above subduction zones.
- Island arcs are chains of volcanic islands formed by subduction of oceanic plates.
- Continental arcs are volcanic mountain ranges formed by subduction of oceanic plates beneath continental plates.
- When two continental plates collide, mountains are formed due to the compression.
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Transform Plate Boundaries: Plates slide horizontally past each other.
- The San Andreas Fault is a famous example of a transform boundary.
Supercontinents
- Alfred Wegener proposed the existence of Pangaea, a supercontinent that existed before the continents drifted apart.
- The supercontinent cycle describes the formation and breakup of supercontinents over geological time.
- It is estimated to take approximately 500 million years for a complete supercontinent cycle.
Intraplate Activity
- Intraplate activity is geological activity that occurs within a plate, away from plate boundaries.
- Hotspots are areas of volcanic activity that occur away from plate boundaries.
- The Hawaiian Islands were formed by a hotspot.
Driving Forces & Consequences
- Mantle convection is the primary driving force for the movement of lithospheric plates.
- Seafloor spreading at divergent plate boundaries creates new oceanic crust.
- Subduction at convergent boundaries results in the destruction of old oceanic crust.
- Tectonic uplift can occur at convergent boundaries, forming mountains and uplifting landmasses.
- Continental rifting can occur within continents, leading to the formation of new ocean basins.
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of earthquakes and plate tectonics with this quiz. Test your knowledge on seismographs, plate boundaries, and the processes that shape our Earth's crust. From divergent boundaries to volcanic formations, discover how these geological features interconnect.
