Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the main driving force behind the movement of lithospheric plates?
What is the main driving force behind the movement of lithospheric plates?
- Tidal forces from the moon
- Heat and convection deep inside the planet (correct)
- The rotation of the Earth
- Gravitational pull from the sun
Which term describes the process of vertical circulation of fluids or gases caused by heating and cooling?
Which term describes the process of vertical circulation of fluids or gases caused by heating and cooling?
- Radiative transfer
- Conduction flows
- Thermal expansion
- Convection currents (correct)
Which type of boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other?
Which type of boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other?
- Divergent boundary (correct)
- Fault boundary
- Convergent boundary
- Transform boundary
What landform is primarily associated with divergent boundaries?
What landform is primarily associated with divergent boundaries?
Who first proposed the idea that continents drifted apart?
Who first proposed the idea that continents drifted apart?
What type of landforms are created by convergent boundaries?
What type of landforms are created by convergent boundaries?
How many major lithospheric plates are commonly recognized by geologists?
How many major lithospheric plates are commonly recognized by geologists?
What is the term for the shoving force that helps push tectonic plates apart at divergent boundaries?
What is the term for the shoving force that helps push tectonic plates apart at divergent boundaries?
What landforms are created when oceanic lithosphere slides over a hotspot?
What landforms are created when oceanic lithosphere slides over a hotspot?
Which process describes the submergence of an old, cold oceanic plate beneath another tectonic plate?
Which process describes the submergence of an old, cold oceanic plate beneath another tectonic plate?
What force is responsible for dragging an entire tectonic plate into the subduction zone?
What force is responsible for dragging an entire tectonic plate into the subduction zone?
Which landforms are typically associated with a transform boundary?
Which landforms are typically associated with a transform boundary?
Which of the following provides evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics?
Which of the following provides evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics?
What happens to the age of seafloor basalts as one moves away from a mid-ocean ridge?
What happens to the age of seafloor basalts as one moves away from a mid-ocean ridge?
What type of landform is created by a chain of progressively older volcanic calderas?
What type of landform is created by a chain of progressively older volcanic calderas?
What is primarily responsible for driving the motion of tectonic plates?
What is primarily responsible for driving the motion of tectonic plates?
Flashcards
Subduction
Subduction
The process where one tectonic plate slides beneath another, forming deep trenches and volcanic arcs.
Slab pull
Slab pull
A strong force pulling a tectonic plate downwards as it subducts.
Transform boundary
Transform boundary
A boundary where two tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other.
Hotspot
Hotspot
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What landforms are created by subduction?
What landforms are created by subduction?
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What landforms are created by a transform boundary?
What landforms are created by a transform boundary?
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What landforms do hotspots create?
What landforms do hotspots create?
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What is some of the evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics?
What is some of the evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics?
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Plate Tectonics Theory
Plate Tectonics Theory
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Tectonic
Tectonic
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Convection
Convection
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Convection Currents
Convection Currents
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Divergent Boundary
Divergent Boundary
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Convergent Boundary
Convergent Boundary
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Ridge Push
Ridge Push
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Study Notes
Plate Tectonic Theory
- Explains Earth's major landforms (mountains, valleys, trenches) through moving lithospheric plates.
- Plate movement driven by heat and convection within the planet.
- "Tectonic" originates from the Greek word for "mason".
- Convection is heat transfer via fluid or gas movement.
Convection Currents
- Convection currents are vertical circulation cells made by heating and cooling a fluid/gas.
- Fluid heats, becomes less dense, rises.
- Fluid cools, becomes denser, sinks.
- Cycle repeats.
Continental Drift Theory
- Alfred Wegener proposed the initial theory in 1915.
- Early 1940s sonar maps of the seafloor provided evidence.
- 1960s discoveries of hotspots and plate boundaries refined the theory.
Lithospheric Plates
- Approximately 7 major plates.
- African, Antarctic, Eurasian, Indo-Australian, Pacific, North American, South American.
Plate Boundaries
- Areas where lithospheric plates meet.
- Three main types: Divergent, Convergent, Transform.
Divergent Boundary
- Plates move apart, new lithosphere created.
- Creates mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.
- Ridge push: New lithosphere pushes plates away.
Convergent Boundary
- Plates collide.
- Creates trenches, volcanic arcs (islands or continents), and mountains.
- Subduction: One plate slides under another due to density (older, colder, denser plate sinks).
- Slab pull: Gravity pulls subducting plate downward, dragging the whole plate.
Transform Boundary
- Plates slide horizontally past each other.
- Creates cracks and faults in the crust.
Hotspots
- Localized heat sources in the mantle.
- Molten material rises, forming volcanoes.
- Oceanic hotspots create island chains.
- Continental hotspots create calderas.
Evidence for Plate Tectonics
- Landforms align along plate boundaries.
- Earthquake patterns mirror active plate boundaries.
- Satellite data tracks plate movement.
- Similar fossils on distant continents.
- Matching continental shapes.
- Seafloor basalt ages increase away from mid-ocean ridges.
Driving Forces of Plate Motion
- Convection currents within the asthenosphere.
- Ridge push (divergent boundaries).
- Slab pull (convergent boundaries).
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Description
Explore the essential concepts of plate tectonics and continental drift theory in this quiz. Learn about the movement of lithospheric plates, convection currents, and their impact on Earth's landforms. Dive into the history and evidence that shaped our understanding of tectonic processes.
