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Questions and Answers
What are tectonic plates?
What are tectonic plates?
What is the composition of continental tectonic plates?
What is the composition of continental tectonic plates?
Which type of tectonic plate is denser and heavier?
Which type of tectonic plate is denser and heavier?
How do tectonic plates move?
How do tectonic plates move?
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What causes the movement of tectonic plates?
What causes the movement of tectonic plates?
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Which type of boundary involves tectonic plates moving apart?
Which type of boundary involves tectonic plates moving apart?
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What is the main difference between continental and oceanic plates?
What is the main difference between continental and oceanic plates?
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What happens when two oceanic plates collide at a convergent boundary?
What happens when two oceanic plates collide at a convergent boundary?
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Which landform is NOT typically formed at a convergent boundary between an oceanic and continental plate?
Which landform is NOT typically formed at a convergent boundary between an oceanic and continental plate?
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What is a key feature of divergent plate boundaries?
What is a key feature of divergent plate boundaries?
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Which statement about transform boundaries is correct?
Which statement about transform boundaries is correct?
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What characterizes a reverse fault?
What characterizes a reverse fault?
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Which of the following is an example of a landform created by a convergent boundary?
Which of the following is an example of a landform created by a convergent boundary?
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What type of fault line occurs at transform boundaries where plates slide horizontally past each other?
What type of fault line occurs at transform boundaries where plates slide horizontally past each other?
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What happens when two continental plates collide at a convergent boundary?
What happens when two continental plates collide at a convergent boundary?
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Study Notes
Tectonic Plates Overview
- Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth’s lithosphere that move and interact with each other.
- They float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them, allowing for dynamic movement.
Composition of Continental Tectonic Plates
- Continental tectonic plates are primarily composed of granite, which is less dense compared to oceanic crust.
Density of Tectonic Plates
- Oceanic tectonic plates are denser and heavier than continental plates due to their basaltic composition.
Movement of Tectonic Plates
- Tectonic plates move due to convection currents in the mantle, driven by the heat from the Earth's interior.
- The interaction between plates can lead to earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain formation.
Types of Plate Boundaries
- Divergent boundaries occur when tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and create new crust.
- Convergent boundaries involve plates moving towards each other, leading to subduction or the formation of mountain ranges.
- Transform boundaries are characterized by plates sliding horizontally past each other, resulting in friction.
Differences Between Continental and Oceanic Plates
- Continental plates are thicker and composed mainly of lighter granite, while oceanic plates are thinner and composed primarily of heavier basalt.
Oceanic Plate Collision
- When two oceanic plates collide at a convergent boundary, one plate is subducted beneath the other, potentially creating trenches and volcanic arcs.
Landforms at Convergent Boundaries
- A landform not typically created at a convergent boundary between an oceanic and continental plate is a rift valley.
Features of Divergent Plate Boundaries
- A key feature of divergent plate boundaries is the formation of mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is created.
Transform Boundaries
- Transform boundaries are characterized by horizontal sliding of plates, which can lead to earthquakes along fault lines, such as strike-slip faults.
Reverse Fault Characteristics
- Reverse faults occur when the hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall, commonly found at convergent boundaries.
Convergent Boundary Landforms
- Mountain ranges, deep ocean trenches, and volcanic arcs are examples of landforms created by convergent boundaries.
Transform Faults
- At transform boundaries, the fault line is known as a strike-slip fault, where plates slide past each other without significant vertical movement.
Continental Plate Collision
- When two continental plates collide at a convergent boundary, they crumple and fold, leading to the formation of large mountain ranges.
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Description
Test your knowledge on convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries, which are ways that tectonic plates interact. Learn about the basics of tectonic plates and how they move on the Earth's crust and mantle.
