Plate Tectonics and Natural Processes (Study Guide)

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Questions and Answers

Who proposed the hypothesis of continental drift?

Dr. Isaac Newton

Dr. Marie Curie

Dr. Alfred Wegener (correct)

Dr. Charles Darwin

What does the term 'Pangaea' refer to?

A type of volcanic rock

An oceanic trench

A tectonic plate

A supercontinent that existed in the past (correct)

What is the Earth's crust primarily composed of?

Gases

Solid rock (correct)

Liquid magma

Molten rock

What layer of Earth lies directly below the Earth's crust?

Mantle Signup and view all the answers

What major landscape changes can result from the movement of tectonic plates?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

How does mountain building occur?

By plates colliding and uplifting the crust Signup and view all the answers

What is magma referred to once it reaches the Earth's surface?

Lava Signup and view all the answers

What is a volcano essentially formed by?

Magma rising to the surface Signup and view all the answers

What is the mantle primarily made of?

Dense silicates Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the high number of volcanoes in the Ring of Fire?

It is where multiple tectonic plates collide and interact Signup and view all the answers

Which type of tectonic plate boundary is characterized by plates moving away from each other?

Divergent boundary Signup and view all the answers

What is a scientist called who specializes in the study of volcanoes?

Volcanologist Signup and view all the answers

How fast do tectonic plates typically move each year?

A few centimeters per year Signup and view all the answers

What geological feature is created by convergent plate boundaries?

Mountains Signup and view all the answers

What is a natural hazard?

A naturally occurring event with potential negative effects on people or the environment Signup and view all the answers

What indicates the sudden release of stored energy within the Earth's crust?

Earthquake Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a principal characteristic of transform plate boundaries?

Plates slide horizontally past each other Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of buoys in tsunami detection?

They detect seismic activity and alert warning centers Signup and view all the answers

What do we call the openings that allow magma to rise to the surface?

Volcanoes Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of a flood barrier?

To control the influx of water during flooding Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of magma?

It is molten rock beneath the Earth’s surface Signup and view all the answers

How can humans reduce the impact of natural hazards?

Through improved preparedness and early warning systems Signup and view all the answers

What is a tsunami primarily caused by?

Earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily composed of solid rock and is the Earth’s outermost layer?

Crust Signup and view all the answers

What are tectonic plates primarily composed of?

Solid pieces of Earth’s crust Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Plate Tectonics: A Summary

Continental Drift Hypothesis: Dr. Alfred Wegener proposed the hypothesis of continental drift, suggesting continents once fit together and have drifted apart.
Pangea: Pangea was the supercontinent that existed before the continents' separation.
Earth's Layers: The Earth consists of a thin, solid crust overlying a thick mantle of molten rock (magma).
Magma vs. Lava: Magma is molten rock beneath the surface, while lava is molten rock at the Earth's surface. Magma cools slower, forming larger crystals in resulting rocks.
Tectonic Plates: The Earth's crust is divided into large, moving plates that sit atop the mantle. These plates cause various geological phenomena.
Plate Movement Speed: Plates move a few centimeters per year, about the same speed fingernails grow.
Plate Boundaries: Locations where tectonic plates meet and interact.

Types of Plate Boundaries

Divergent Boundaries: Plates move apart, creating new crust, underwater volcanoes, and, in some cases, rift valleys
Convergent Boundaries: Plates collide, leading to mountain building (if continental plates collide), deep ocean trenches, volcanic eruptions (if oceanic plates collide). Also, called reverse faults.
Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other horizontally. Also called strike-slip faults. A prime example is the San Andreas Fault.

Natural Processes from Plate Movement

Mountain Building: The immense force of colliding plates can fold and uplift rock layers. Mountains form on land and in the ocean.
Volcanoes: Molten rock (magma) rises, forming openings to the surface. Magma reaches the surface, called lava.
Volcanic Eruptions: The explosion or release of hot rocks, ash and gases from a volcano.
Earthquakes: Sudden, violent shaking of the Earth's surface due to the release of accumulated stress at plate boundaries. Energy is released along a fault.
Ring of Fire: Area around the Pacific Ocean with a high concentration of active volcanoes due to many colliding plates.
Tsunamis: Large sea waves caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. Buoys serve as early detection systems.

Natural Hazards

Natural Processes: Naturally occurring events that may have negative consequences, like flooding, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes can be sudden or gradual.
Natural Hazards: Naturally occurring events that pose a risk to people or the environment. Hazards become disasters when they cause vast destruction.
Flood Prevention: Flood barriers and floodgates can control water flow, attempting to prevent flooding.
Volcanologists: Scientists who study volcanoes.

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Description

Explore the fundamentals of plate tectonics, including the continental drift hypothesis proposed by Alfred Wegener and the concept of Pangea. Learn about the Earth's layers, the differences between magma and lava, and the types of plate boundaries. This quiz will deepen your understanding of how tectonic plates interact and move over time.