Plate Tectonics Quiz

Theory that the Earth's lithosphere is broken into large plates that move relative to each other
Plates are in constant motion, sliding over the more fluid asthenosphere below
Plate boundaries:
- Divergent: plates move apart, new crust forms (e.g. mid-ocean ridges)
- Convergent: plates move together, crust is destroyed or deformed (e.g. subduction zones)
- Transform: plates slide past each other horizontally (e.g. San Andreas Fault)
Plate tectonics is responsible for shaping the Earth's surface, including the creation of mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes

Composition:
- Crust: outermost solid layer, varying in thickness (5-70 km)
- Mantle: thick layer beneath the crust, divided into upper and lower mantle
- Outer core: liquid iron and nickel, responsible for generating the Earth's magnetic field
- Inner core: solid iron and nickel, hottest part of the Earth (up to 6,000°C)
Temperature and pressure increase with depth, causing rocks to melt and form magma

Sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, causing seismic waves to propagate through the Earth
Caused by:
- Tectonic plate movement and stress buildup
- Volcanic activity
- Human activities (e.g. injection of fluids into the ground)
Measured using the Richter scale, which logs the magnitude of the earthquake
Effects:
- Ground shaking
- Landslides and soil liquefaction
- Tsunamis (if the earthquake occurs under the ocean)

Process by which magma rises to the Earth's surface, resulting in eruptions of molten rock, ash, and gas
Types of volcanoes:
- Shield volcanoes: gently sloping, formed by lava flows (e.g. Hawaiian Islands)
- Composite volcanoes: steep-sided, formed by a combination of lava flows and pyroclastic material (e.g. Mount St. Helens)
- Cinder cones: small, steep-sided, formed by accumulation of ash and cinder (e.g. Paricutin volcano)
Volcanic eruptions can:
- Release toxic gases and ash into the atmosphere
- Create new landforms
- Affect global climate patterns

Process of forming mountains through the collision of tectonic plates
Types of mountain-building processes:
- Continental collision: plates collide, forming mountains (e.g. Himalayas)
- Ocean-continent collision: oceanic plate is subducted beneath a continental plate, forming a mountain range (e.g. Andes)
- Volcanic arc formation: oceanic plate is subducted, resulting in volcanic activity and mountain building (e.g. Japanese island arc)
Mountain building can occur through:
- Folding: rocks are bent and deformed
- Faulting: rocks are broken and displaced along faults
- Volcanic activity: magma rises to the surface, forming volcanic rocks

The Earth's lithosphere is broken into large plates that move relative to each other
Plates are in constant motion, sliding over the more fluid asthenosphere below
There are three types of plate boundaries:
- Divergent: where new crust forms as plates move apart, e.g. mid-ocean ridges
- Convergent: where crust is destroyed or deformed as plates move together, e.g. subduction zones
- Transform: where plates slide past each other horizontally, e.g. San Andreas Fault
Plate tectonics shapes the Earth's surface, creating mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes

The Earth's interior consists of four layers:
- Crust: outermost solid layer, varying in thickness (5-70 km)
- Mantle: thick layer beneath the crust, divided into upper and lower mantle
- Outer core: liquid iron and nickel, responsible for generating the Earth's magnetic field
- Inner core: solid iron and nickel, hottest part of the Earth (up to 6,000°C)
Temperature and pressure increase with depth, causing rocks to melt and form magma

Earthquakes are sudden releases of energy in the Earth's crust, causing seismic waves to propagate through the Earth
They are caused by tectonic plate movement, stress buildup, volcanic activity, and human activities
Earthquakes are measured using the Richter scale, which logs the magnitude of the earthquake
Effects of earthquakes include:
- Ground shaking
- Landslides and soil liquefaction
- Tsunamis (if the earthquake occurs under the ocean)

Volcanic activity is the process by which magma rises to the Earth's surface, resulting in eruptions of molten rock, ash, and gas
There are three types of volcanoes:
- Shield volcanoes: gently sloping, formed by lava flows (e.g. Hawaiian Islands)
- Composite volcanoes: steep-sided, formed by a combination of lava flows and pyroclastic material (e.g. Mount St. Helens)
- Cinder cones: small, steep-sided, formed by accumulation of ash and cinder (e.g. Paricutin volcano)
Volcanic eruptions can:
- Release toxic gases and ash into the atmosphere
- Create new landforms
- Affect global climate patterns

Mountain building is the process of forming mountains through the collision of tectonic plates
There are three types of mountain-building processes:
- Continental collision: plates collide, forming mountains (e.g. Himalayas)
- Ocean-continent collision: oceanic plate is subducted beneath a continental plate, forming a mountain range (e.g. Andes)
- Volcanic arc formation: oceanic plate is subducted, resulting in volcanic activity and mountain building (e.g. Japanese island arc)
Mountain building can occur through:
- Folding: rocks are bent and deformed
- Faulting: rocks are broken and displaced along faults
- Volcanic activity: magma rises to the surface, forming volcanic rocks