Tectonic Plates and Boundaries Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which type of boundary is characterized by tectonic plates sliding past each other?

Divergent boundary

Convergent boundary

Transform boundary (correct)

Hot spot

Hot spots are located at the boundaries of tectonic plates.

False (B)

Name one example of a volcanic hot spot.

Yellowstone Hot Spot

A __________ fault occurs when the hanging wall block moves upwards due to compression.

reverse Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of faults with their descriptions:

Normal fault = Hanging wall block moves down due to tension Reverse fault = Hanging wall block moves up due to compression Strike slip fault = Plates slide horizontally against each other Transform fault = Fault where rocks scrape past each other leading to earthquakes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following layers of the Earth makes up the tectonic plates?

Lithosphere (B) Signup and view all the answers

The asthenosphere is a solid layer of the Earth.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What are the two primary types of crust found on Earth?

Oceanic crust and continental crust Signup and view all the answers

The process of ______ within the mantle drives the movement of tectonic plates.

convection Signup and view all the answers

Match the following tectonic plate boundaries with their characteristic features:

Divergent boundary = Plates move apart, creating new crust Convergent boundary = Plates collide, resulting in subduction or mountain formation Transform boundary = Plates slide past each other horizontally Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the supercontinent that existed over 2,080 million years ago?

Pangaea (A) Signup and view all the answers

Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

What process is responsible for the movement of tectonic plates?

continental drift Signup and view all the answers

The __________ is formed where two tectonic plates move apart.

rift valley Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a convergent boundary?

Two plates collide (C) Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of boundaries with their descriptions:

Divergent = Spreading boundaries where new crust is formed Convergent = Colliding boundaries that can form mountains Transform = Sliding boundaries with no crust created or destroyed Signup and view all the answers

Name one feature formed at a divergent boundary.

mid-ocean ridge Signup and view all the answers

Continental - Oceanic convergence leads to the formation of a __________.

trench Signup and view all the answers

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Earth's Interior

Earth's main layers are the crust, mantle, and core.
The layers of the Earth are similar to the layers in a hard-boiled egg.
The crust is 5-70 km thick.
The mantle is 2,867 km thick.
The outer core is 2,266 km thick.
The inner core is 1,216 km thick.

Studying Earth's Interior

Scientists study Earth's interior by recording seismic waves (P-waves and S-waves) from earthquakes.
P-waves travel through both solids and liquids, while S-waves only travel through solids.
Seismic shadow zones reveal the composition and state of Earth's interior layers.

Layers of the Earth

Lithosphere: Includes the crust and the solid, rocky part of the upper mantle. This forms the tectonic plates.
Asthenosphere: The material the tectonic plates float on, semi-molten part of the upper mantle.
Mantle: Made of molten rocks (magma), 1,600-4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It makes up 80% of Earth's volume.
Outer Core: Molten metals (nickel and iron), 4,000-9,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Inner Core: Solid metals (nickel and iron), 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Oceanic Crust vs. Continental Crust

Oceanic crust is typically denser and thinner than continental crust.
Oceanic crust is composed of basalt.
Continental crust is composed of granite.
When they collide, oceanic crust usually sinks below continental crust.

Convection and the Mantle

Convection is one of the Earth's heat transfer methods.
Convection currents in the mantle are caused by hotter material rising and cooler material sinking.
This movement is due to differences in density.

Wegener's Continental Drift

Wegener's hypothesis proposed that the continents were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangaea.
Pangaea then broke apart and the continents drifted to their present locations.
Evidence supporting continental drift includes the fit of continents, fossil evidence, and geologic rock and sediment comparisons.

Evidence for Continental Drift

The continents fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
Similar fossils of plants and animals have been found on continents now separated by vast oceans.
Matching rock formations and mountain ranges across different continents.

Pangaea

Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed more than 2,080 million years ago.
Pangaea broke apart to form the continents we know today.
Pangaea was surrounded by a large ocean called Panthalassa.
The supercontinent eventually broke into Laurasia (North) and Gondwana (South).

Theory of Plate Tectonics

The theory of plate tectonics explains the formation, movement, and subduction of Earth's plates.
This process is a very slow, gradual process that happens at a rate of approximately 2 cm per year.

Plate Boundaries (Divergent)

Divergent boundaries are where tectonic plates move apart.
Molten magma rises to the surface, creating new crust.
Seafloor spreading is a key process at divergent boundaries (mid-ocean ridges), where the new crust forms.
Rift valleys are deep valleys formed by diverging plates, an example is the East African rift valley.

Plate Boundaries (Convergent)

Convergent boundaries are where tectonic plates collide.
There are three variations: Oceanic-Continental, Oceanic-Oceanic, Continental-Continental
Oceanic-Continental: Oceanic crust subducts below continental crust, leading to volcanic activity.
Oceanic-Oceanic: Denser oceanic plate subducts, forming a volcanic island arc.
Continental-Continental: Collision results in large mountain ranges (e.g., Himalayas).

Plate Boundaries (Transform)

Transform boundaries are where plates slide past each other.
This movement doesn't create or destroy crust.
Earthquakes are common along these boundaries (e.g., San Andreas Fault).
Faults are fractures in the Earth's crust where rocks have moved relative to each other.

Volcanic Hot Spots

Hot spots are areas in the mantle where unusually high temperatures cause magma to rise.
These hot spots often form volcanic landforms far from plate boundaries.
Hot spots are typically stationary, and as tectonic plates move over them, a chain of volcanoes is created.
Yellowstone is an example of a hot spot.

Ring of Fire

The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped zone of active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes around the Pacific Ocean.
The volcanoes are associated with convergent plate boundaries.

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Description

Test your knowledge on tectonic plates, types of boundaries, and geological features. This quiz covers various aspects of plate tectonics, including fault types, hot spots, and Earth's layers. Challenge yourself with matching descriptions to the correct terminology.