Sea Floor Spreading Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic of tectonic plates?

  • They consist solely of oceanic lithosphere.
  • They are large, irregularly-shaped slabs of solid rock. (correct)
  • They are thin, easily movable layers of gas.
  • They are primarily composed of liquid material.

    • How thick are tectonic plates in oceanic areas?

  • 5-10 km
  • 5-100 km (correct)
  • 10-30 km
  • 50-100 km

    • What is the primary reason tectonic plates float?

  • They are constantly being pushed upwards.
  • They exist at a higher altitude than other layers.
  • They are less dense than the surrounding material. (correct)
  • They are made of liquid rock.

    • What is the thickness of tectonic plates in continental areas?

    <p>200 km</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What layer of the Earth do tectonic plates comprise?

    <p>The lithosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Harry Hess's theory explain about lithospheric plates?

    <p>It involves movement of both continents and oceans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of forces does the theory explain for the movement of continents?

    <p>Gravity, pole fleeing force, and tidal currents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which evidence is used to support the theory of sea floor spreading?

    <p>Paleomagnetic rocks and their distribution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one drawback of the theory related to the movement of oceanic plates?

    <p>It lacks explanation for the movement of some oceanic plates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'apparent affinity' refer to in the context of the theory?

    <p>Matching age of rocks found on opposite continental shores.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a common misconception about sea floor spreading?

    <p>It only explains the distribution of oceanic features.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature is NOT associated with evidence for continental movement?

    <p>Uniform mineral content in ocean sediments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of geological feature is used as evidence in the context of paleomagnetism?

    <p>Ocean bottom relief.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which plate is located between the Pacific and North American plates?

    <p>Juan de Fuca plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one characteristic of convergent plate boundaries?

    <p>Plates collide with one another</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following plates is primarily associated with the Mediterranean region?

    <p>Turkish plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of boundary is characterized by plates that move apart?

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

    Which plate is known for being associated with seismic activity in the Iranian region?

    <p>Iranian plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these plates is NOT mentioned in the context given?

    <p>North American plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What movement is typically seen in transform plate boundaries?

    <p>Plates slide past each other horizontally</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term is used for the interaction where two plates are forced together?

    <p>Convergence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the layer beneath the lithosphere called?

    <p>Asthenosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about tectonic plates is true?

    <p>Lithosphere is a rigid layer floating on the asthenosphere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of tectonic plate is located beneath the oceans?

    <p>Oceanic plates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of tectonic plate would you most likely find beneath a continent?

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

    Which tectonic plate is primarily associated with the area surrounding Antarctica?

    <p>Antarctic plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following plates is located between Central America and the Pacific plate?

    <p>Cocos plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs at tectonic plate boundaries?

    <p>All types of interactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which tectonic plate is located between the Asiatic and Pacific plates?

    <p>Philippine plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which tectonic plate is identified as the South American plate?

    <p>Pacific plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which tectonic plate is located primarily in the Saudi Arabian region?

    <p>Arabian plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What principal event is associated with plate boundaries?

    <p>Volcanic activity and earthquakes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which major tectonic plate is located in North America?

    <p>North American plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a tectonic plate?

    <p>A rigid section of lithosphere that moves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following plates is situated north-east of Australia?

    <p>Fuji plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What geological feature is associated with divergent plate boundaries?

    <p>Mid-ocean ridges</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process occurs at mid-ocean ridges?

    <p>Sea floor spreading</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily drives the movement of tectonic plates?

    <p>Convection currents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs as tectonic plates move apart at a divergent boundary?

    <p>Rift valleys are formed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a common feature of rift valleys?

    <p>Fissure volcanoes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What geological process involves hot magma rising to the Earth's surface and then sinking again?

    <p>Convection currents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is primarily formed due to sea floor rifting and spreading?

    <p>Ocean basins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which oceanic structure is an example of a divergent plate boundary?

    <p>Mid-Atlantic Ridge</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a feature typically associated with divergent boundaries?

    <p>Deep-sea trenches</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of volcano is most likely to form at a divergent boundary?

    <p>Shield volcano</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of fault is typically found at divergent boundaries?

    <p>Normal fault</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of divergent boundaries?

    <p>Plate separation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At which type of boundary would you expect to find new oceanic crust being formed?

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

    Which feature is primarily formed due to tectonic activity at divergent boundaries?

    <p>Ocean ridges</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Harry Hess and Sea Floor Spreading

    • Harry Hess proposed the Sea Floor Spreading theory in 1968, focusing on oceanic plate movement.
    • The theory explains the movement of oceanic plates, highlighting their distinct behaviors compared to continental plates.
    • Sea Floor Spreading involves gravity and convection currents in the mantle, affecting crustal plate movement.

    Tectonic Plates

    • The lithosphere comprises the Earth’s crust and upper mantle, divided into large plates known as tectonic plates.
    • Tectonic plates are solid rock slabs varying in thickness, 5-100 km thick in oceanic regions and around 200 km in continental areas.
    • Plates float on a plastic layer beneath the lithosphere called the asthenosphere.

    Asthenosphere

    • The asthenosphere is a ductile layer situated below the lithosphere, allowing tectonic plates to move over it.
    • This layer's plasticity is crucial for plate tectonics, permitting the more rigid lithosphere to float and shift.

    Principles of Plate Tectonics

    • The Earth consists of a mosaic of thin, rigid plates that move horizontally concerning one another.
    • Tectonic activity, such as mountain formation and earthquakes, occurs along plate boundaries where these plates interact.

    Types of Tectonic Plates

    • Oceanic Plates: Located beneath oceans, primarily formed from basaltic crust.
    • Continental Plates: Situated beneath continents and primarily composed of granitic crust.

    Major Tectonic Plates

    • Notable plates include the North American, South American, Pacific, and Antarctic plates, among others.
    • The Eurasian and Indian-Australia-New Zealand plates are significant in tectonic dynamics.

    Minor Tectonic Plates

    • Minor plates include the Cocos, Nazca, Arabian, and Philippine plates, each located between major landforms or oceanic plates.
    • Specific minor plates influence regional geology and seismic activity, such as the Juan de Fuca plate adjacent to North America.

    Types of Plate Boundaries

    • Divergent Boundaries: Occur where plates move apart, often leading to new crust formation.
    • Convergent Boundaries: Formed by plate collision, resulting in mountain range formation or subduction zones.
    • Transform Boundaries: Characterized by lateral plate movement, contributing to earthquake activity.### Transform Faults
    • A transform fault is a type of fault in geology where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally.
    • This movement can cause significant seismic activity and is associated with earthquakes.
    • The shifting motion typically occurs along cracks or fractures in the Earth's crust.

    Features of Divergent Boundaries

    • Divergent boundaries are locations where tectonic plates move apart, leading to geological features.
    • Mid-ocean ridges arise from upwellings of magma that create new oceanic crust as plates separate.
    • Rift valleys form when continental plates diverge, causing the landscape to lower and create a valley.
    • Fissure volcanoes may develop as magma escapes through cracks in the earth's surface due to the separation of plates.

    Divergent Plate Boundaries

    • The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a prominent example of a divergent plate boundary, where sea floor spreading occurs.
    • Sea floor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is created as tectonic plates move apart, leading to the formation of ocean basins.
    • Divergent boundaries are essential in the recycling of the Earth's crust and play a critical role in plate tectonics.

    Causes of Plate Tectonics

    • Plate tectonics is primarily driven by convection currents in the Earth's mantle.
    • Hot magma rises toward the surface, cools, and then sinks back down, creating a continuous cycle of movement.
    • These convection currents help to explain the shifting of tectonic plates and the dynamic nature of the Earth's surface.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge on the Sea Floor Spreading theory as proposed by Harry Hess and others. This quiz covers key concepts from the 1940s to 1968. Explore the movement of tectonic plates and the significance of this geological phenomenon.

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