Geology Quiz: Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics
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Questions and Answers

What evidence supports the idea that continents were once connected?

  • Similar fossils of plants and animals found on distant continents.
  • Presence of coal deposits in Antarctica.
  • Similar rock formations and mountain ranges on different continents.
  • All of the above. (correct)

    • Why is Earth described as a magnet?

  • It has a magnetic field created by the movement of molten iron in its outer core. (correct)
  • It has a core made of iron.
  • It has a strong gravitational pull.
  • It is attracted to other magnets.

    • What happens during reverse polarity?

  • The Earth's atmosphere changes.
  • Earth's magnetic poles switch places. (correct)
  • The Earth's temperature increases.
  • The Earth's rotation slows down.

    • How does a compass work?

    <p>By using a magnetized needle that points towards the Earth's magnetic south pole. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the process where new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges?

    <p>Seafloor spreading (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the older oceanic crust as new crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges?

    <p>It is pushed away from the ridge and subducted beneath the continents. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the first step in seafloor spreading?

    <p>Magma rises from the mantle at mid-ocean ridges and cools, forming new oceanic crust. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a piece of evidence supporting the theory of continental drift?

    <p>The presence of volcanoes along the edges of continents. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At which type of plate boundary does new oceanic crust form?

    <p>Divergent Boundary (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary force that drives the movement of tectonic plates?

    <p>Convection Currents in the Mantle (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a type of plate boundary?

    <p>Transverse Boundary (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of deep ocean trenches?

    <p>Convergent Boundary (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary driving force behind slab pull?

    <p>The weight of the sinking plate (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of volcano is characterized by broad, gently sloping sides and low-viscosity lava flows?

    <p>Shield (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor primarily determines the viscosity of magma?

    <p>Silica Content (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of volcanic eruption is typically associated with high-viscosity magma?

    <p>Explosive eruption (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a batholith?

    <p>A massive underground igneous rock body, over 100 km² (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of stress is responsible for the formation of normal faults?

    <p>Tension (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference between elastic and plastic deformation?

    <p>Elastic deformation is reversible, while plastic deformation is permanent. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of seismic wave causes the most damage during an earthquake?

    <p>Surface Waves (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the epicenter of an earthquake?

    <p>The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between the Mercalli scale and the moment magnitude scale?

    <p>The Mercalli scale measures the intensity of an earthquake, while the moment magnitude scale measures the energy released. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of P-Waves?

    <p>They cause the ground to move side to side. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of volcanic eruption is typically characterized by the release of ash and cinders, often forming a cone shape?

    <p>Cinder Cone (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Pangea

    The supercontinent that existed when all landmasses were joined together.

    Fossil Evidence

    Similar fossils found on separated continents indicating past connection.

    Geological Evidence

    Similar rock formations and mountain ranges found on distant continents.

    Magnetic Field

    Earth's magnetic field generated by molten iron in the outer core.

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    Compass Functionality

    A compass needle aligns with Earth's magnetic field, pointing north.

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    Reverse Polarity

    A condition where Earth's magnetic poles switch places.

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    Seafloor Spreading Steps

    Process where magma creates new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges.

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    Magma Rises at Ridges

    Magma from the mantle creates new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges.

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    Types of Plate Boundaries

    There are three types: Divergent, Convergent, and Transform boundaries with distinct movements.

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    Divergent Boundaries

    Plates move away from each other, forming new crust at mid-ocean ridges as magma rises.

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    Convergent Boundaries

    Plates move toward each other, leading to subduction or mountain formation.

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    Transform Boundaries

    Plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes due to friction.

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    Convection Current

    Hot magma rises, cools, then sinks, creating a cycle that drives plate movement.

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    Ridge Push

    Newly formed oceanic crust pushes tectonic plates apart at mid-ocean ridges.

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    Slab Pull

    Denser edge of a sinking plate pulls the rest of the plate downward during subduction.

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    Caldera

    A large, bowl-shaped depression formed when a volcano's magma chamber empties and collapses.

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    Magma Viscosity

    Determined mainly by the silica content; high silica means thick magma, low silica means thin.

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    Types of Volcanoes

    Cinder Cone: steep and conical; Shield: broad and gently sloping; Composite: layered and explosive.

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    Types of Stress on Rocks

    Compression (squeezes), Tension (pulls apart), Shear (moves side by side).

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    Elastic vs Plastic Deformation

    Elastic: temporary shape change; Plastic: permanent shape change without returning.

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    Seismic Waves

    Energy waves that travel through the Earth, generated by earthquakes.

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    Focus vs Epicenter

    Focus: the origin point of an earthquake inside Earth; Epicenter: point on surface directly above the focus.

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    Study Notes

    Continental Drift and Pangaea

    • Pangaea was the supercontinent when all Earth's landmasses were joined.
    • Evidence for Pangaea includes similar fossils on now-separated continents and similar rock formations and mountain ranges.
    • Coal deposits in Antarctica suggest a warmer climate in the past, consistent with Pangaea's placement.

    Earth's Magnetic Field

    • Earth acts as a magnet due to moving molten iron in its outer core, producing a magnetic field.
    • A compass uses a magnetized needle aligned with Earth's magnetic field. Earth's geographic and magnetic poles are not exactly aligned.
    • Reverse polarity occurs when Earth's magnetic poles switch. This affects compass directions.

    Seafloor Spreading

    • Seafloor spreading involves magma rising at mid-ocean ridges, forming new crust.
    • The new crust pushes older crust outward.
    • Older crust eventually sinks back into the mantle at subduction zones.

    Plate Tectonics

    • Divergent boundaries: Plates move apart, forming new crust (mid-ocean ridges).
    • Convergent boundaries: Plates collide, leading to subduction or mountain building.
    • Transform boundaries: Plates slide past each other horizontally.

    Convection Currents

    • Convection currents in the mantle result from heated magma rising and cooler magma sinking.
    • This cycle drives the movement of tectonic plates.

    Forces Driving Plate Movement

    • Ridge push: Elevated oceanic crust pushes plates apart.
    • Slab pull: Sinking dense plate edges pull the rest of the plate.

    Volcanic Features

    • Caldera: A large, bowl-shaped depression at a volcano summit formed by collapse after magma evacuation.
    • Volcano Types:
      • Shield volcanoes: Broad, gentle slopes formed by fluid lava flows.
      • Composite volcanoes: Steep, mountain-like structures from alternating lava and pyroclastic eruptions.
      • Cinder cone volcanoes: Small, steep cones formed by ejected fragments.

    Magma Properties

    • Magma viscosity (thickness) is determined by silica content (high silica = thick magma).
    • High viscosity magma leads to explosive eruptions and composite volcanoes.
    • Low viscosity magma leads to quiet eruptions and shield volcanoes.

    Intrusive Igneous Features

    • Dike: A vertical intrusion cutting across rock layers.
    • Sill: A horizontal intrusion between rock layers.
    • Laccolith: A dome-shaped intrusion pushing rock layers upward.
    • Batholith: A massive underground igneous rock body greater than 100 km².

    Stress on Rocks

    • Compression: Squeezes rocks, common at convergent boundaries.
    • Tension: Pulls rocks apart, common at divergent boundaries.
    • Shear: Moves rocks past horizontally, frequent at transform boundaries.

    Rock Deformation

    • Elastic deformation: Temporary change, reversible shape change from force, the object returns to its original shape when stress is removed
    • Plastic deformation: Permanent change in shape or size from force, the object does not return to its original shape when stress is removed.

    Faults

    • Reverse fault: Hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall (compression).
    • Normal fault: Hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall (tension).
    • Strike-slip fault: Rocks slide horizontally past each other (shear).

    Earthquakes

    • Seismic waves: Energy waves travelling through Earth's layers from an earthquake.

    • Types of seismic waves:

      • P-Waves: Compression waves.
      • S-Waves: Shear waves.
      • Surface waves: Slowest, cause most surface damage.

    • Focus: Point within the Earth where an earthquake originates.

    • Epicenter: Point on the surface directly above the focus.

    Seismometers

    • Seismometers detect and measure seismic waves using a suspended mass.

    Earthquake Measurement

    • Magnitude scale: Moment magnitude measures total energy released.
    • Intensity scale: Mercalli scale rates earthquake effects on humans, structures.

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    Test your knowledge on Earth's geological processes, including the theory of continental drift and the formation of Pangaea. Explore topics such as magnetic fields, seafloor spreading, and plate tectonics, and understand how these concepts shape our planet today.

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