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Questions and Answers
Who proposed the hypothesis of continental drift?
Who proposed the hypothesis of continental drift?
What does the term 'Pangaea' refer to?
What does the term 'Pangaea' refer to?
What is the Earth's crust primarily composed of?
What is the Earth's crust primarily composed of?
What layer of Earth lies directly below the Earth's crust?
What layer of Earth lies directly below the Earth's crust?
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What major landscape changes can result from the movement of tectonic plates?
What major landscape changes can result from the movement of tectonic plates?
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How does mountain building occur?
How does mountain building occur?
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What is magma referred to once it reaches the Earth's surface?
What is magma referred to once it reaches the Earth's surface?
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What is a volcano essentially formed by?
What is a volcano essentially formed by?
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What is the mantle primarily made of?
What is the mantle primarily made of?
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What is the primary reason for the high number of volcanoes in the Ring of Fire?
What is the primary reason for the high number of volcanoes in the Ring of Fire?
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Which type of tectonic plate boundary is characterized by plates moving away from each other?
Which type of tectonic plate boundary is characterized by plates moving away from each other?
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What is a scientist called who specializes in the study of volcanoes?
What is a scientist called who specializes in the study of volcanoes?
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How fast do tectonic plates typically move each year?
How fast do tectonic plates typically move each year?
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What geological feature is created by convergent plate boundaries?
What geological feature is created by convergent plate boundaries?
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What is a natural hazard?
What is a natural hazard?
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What indicates the sudden release of stored energy within the Earth's crust?
What indicates the sudden release of stored energy within the Earth's crust?
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Which of the following is a principal characteristic of transform plate boundaries?
Which of the following is a principal characteristic of transform plate boundaries?
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What is the significance of buoys in tsunami detection?
What is the significance of buoys in tsunami detection?
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What do we call the openings that allow magma to rise to the surface?
What do we call the openings that allow magma to rise to the surface?
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What is the function of a flood barrier?
What is the function of a flood barrier?
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What is the primary characteristic of magma?
What is the primary characteristic of magma?
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How can humans reduce the impact of natural hazards?
How can humans reduce the impact of natural hazards?
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What is a tsunami primarily caused by?
What is a tsunami primarily caused by?
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What is primarily composed of solid rock and is the Earth’s outermost layer?
What is primarily composed of solid rock and is the Earth’s outermost layer?
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What are tectonic plates primarily composed of?
What are tectonic plates primarily composed of?
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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.
