Questions and Answers
What is a plate boundary?
What is a divergent boundary?
Boundary where plates move away from each other.
What is a convergent boundary?
Boundary where plates move towards each other.
What is a transform boundary?
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What is subduction?
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What does the lithosphere consist of?
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What are the two types of crust?
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What is the asthenosphere?
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What drives convection currents in the outer core?
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What are tectonic plates?
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What are convection currents?
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What is a trench in geology?
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What occurs at a midocean ridge?
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What is an island arc?
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What are fold mountains?
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Study Notes
Plate Boundaries
- Plate Boundary: The region where two or more tectonic plates intersect, influencing geological activity.
- Divergent Boundary: A type of boundary characterized by plates moving away from each other, often resulting in the formation of new crust, such as ocean ridges.
- Convergent Boundary: Plates at this boundary move toward each other, which can lead to subduction or mountain formation.
- Transform Boundary: Plates slide laterally past one another at this boundary, occasionally causing earthquakes.
Key Processes
- Subduction: The geological process where a denser tectonic plate sinks beneath another plate into the mantle, often leading to volcanic activity and earthquakes.
- Convection Currents: The cyclical movement of molten rock within the asthenosphere that drives the motion of tectonic plates, influencing geological features.
Tectonic Layers
- Lithosphere: The rigid outer layer of the Earth, including the crust and upper mantle, divided into tectonic plates.
- Asthenosphere: The semi-fluid layer beneath the lithosphere that allows for the movement of tectonic plates due to its viscous properties.
- Outer Core: A hot, liquid layer of the Earth that generates convection currents, contributing to the movement of the plates above.
Geographic Features
- Trench: Deep underwater canyons formed at convergent boundaries where subduction occurs, often associated with recycling old oceanic crust.
- Midocean Ridge: A prominent underwater mountain range formed by the upwelling of magma at divergent boundaries, creating new ocean floor.
- Island Arc: A series of volcanic islands formed from the collision of two oceanic plates, shaping unique ecosystems and geography.
- Fold Mountains: Mountain ranges formed from the collision and folding of two continental plates, characterized by complex geological structures.
Types of Crust
- Continental Crust: Thicker and less dense crust that forms the continents.
- Oceanic Crust: Thinner and denser crust that underlies the oceans, subjected to subduction at convergent boundaries.
Important Note
- Subduction can occur when a denser oceanic plate slides beneath a lighter continental plate, triggering geological phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
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Description
Test your knowledge on tectonic plate boundaries with this informative quiz. Learn about different types of plate boundaries including divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries. Each term comes with a precise definition to enhance your understanding.