Plate Tectonics Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is the theory that the surface of the earth is broken into larger pieces of crust called plates that ride along on a softer layer of the earth known as?

  • Plate tectonics (correct)
  • Continental drift
  • Seafloor spreading
  • Mantle convection

    • How thick can continental plates be?

  • Up to 200 km
  • Up to 150 km (correct)
  • Up to 50 km
  • Up to 300 km

    • What is the upper part of the mantle called, on which the crustal plates ride?

  • Mesosphere
  • Stratosphere
  • Asthenosphere (correct)
  • Lithosphere

    • What type of boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other?

    <p>Divergent boundary</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory proposed the idea of drifting continents before plate tectonics was established?

    <p>Continental drift</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do geologists study?

    <p>The earth's structure and processes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What caused the mystery of drifting continents to be solved in the middle of the 20th century?

    <p>The proposal of plate tectonics theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main theory of plate movement?

    <p>The movement is caused by convection cells in the mantle driven by heat from the core.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three main layers of the earth, as described in the text?

    <p>Peel, fruit, core</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes the rock in the mantle to move according to geologists?

    <p>Heat from the core creates convection currents in the mantle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens at converging boundaries?

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

    What causes ridge push according to the text?

    <p>Gravity causes higher plates at spreading centers to flow downhill and flatten out to the ocean floor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is thought to be the main source of heat driving plate movement?

    <p>Radioactive decay of elements such as uranium in the core.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are convection currents in the mantle described in relation to a pot of boiling water?

    <p>Hotter rock near the mantle rises toward the crust while cooler rock sinks back down toward the core, forming convection currents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes oceanic crust to be forced under another plate at converging boundaries?

    <p>Gravity pulling on denser oceanic crust causes it to sink beneath another plate and back into the mantle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Plate Tectonics

    • The theory describing the earth's surface as broken into tectonic plates that float on a semi-fluid layer is called plate tectonics.
    • Continental plates can reach thicknesses of up to 100 kilometers.

    Upper Mantle

    • The upper part of the mantle, where crustal plates move, is referred to as the asthenosphere.

    Plate Boundaries

    • Divergent boundaries occur when two tectonic plates move apart, leading to the formation of new crust.

    Continental Drift

    • The theory of continental drift, proposed by Alfred Wegener, suggested that continents were once joined and have since moved apart.

    Geology

    • Geologists study the composition, structure, and processes of the Earth, including its materials and the forces shaping it.

    Mystery Resolution

    • The mystery of drifting continents was solved in the mid-20th century due to advancements in technology and the discovery of seafloor spreading.

    Plate Movement Theory

    • The principal theory explaining plate movement is based on convection currents in the mantle driven by heat from the Earth's core.

    Earth's Structure

    • The Earth consists of three main layers: the crust, the mantle, and the core.

    Mantle Dynamics

    • According to geologists, the movement of rock in the mantle is primarily caused by convection currents generated by heat varying within the mantle.

    Convergence Effects

    • At converging boundaries, tectonic plates collide, which can result in mountain formation, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.

    Ridge Push

    • Ridge push is caused by the weight of elevated mid-ocean ridges pushing lithospheric plates away from the ridge.

    Heat Source

    • The primary source of heat driving plate movement is the radioactive decay of elements within the Earth's core.

    Convection Analogy

    • Convection currents in the mantle are likened to a pot of boiling water, where hot material rises and cool material sinks, creating a cycle that facilitates plate movement.

    Subduction Process

    • At converging boundaries, oceanic crust is forced under another plate due to its higher density compared to continental crust.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge of plate tectonics with this quiz. Explore the concepts of continental drift, tectonic plates, and their movements.

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