Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics Quiz

Plate Tectonics

• Convection currents in the Earth's mantle drive plate motion.

Plate Boundary Interactions

• Divergent plate boundaries result in the formation of shield volcanoes.

Normal Faults

• The formation of mountains and valleys at Normal Faults is caused by the movement of the Earth's crust.

Earthquakes

• The magnitude of an earthquake measures the amount of energy released during the earthquake.

Fault Formation

• Tensile stress results in the formation of faults.

Plate Boundaries

• Shield volcanoes often form at divergent plate boundaries.
• Transform plate boundaries are characterized by plates sliding past each other.

Sea-Floor Spreading

• The process of sea-floor spreading is often associated with the formation of mid-ocean ridges and oceanic crust.

Volcanic Eruptions

• The buildup of pressure due to the accumulation of gases in magma chambers causes explosive volcanic eruptions.

Plate Composition

• Oceanic plates are denser and typically subduct beneath continental plates.

Types of Stress

• Tensile stress results in the stretching and thinning of the Earth's crust.

Test your knowledge on the evidence supporting the theories of continental drift and plate tectonics, including fossils, land features, climate data, sea-floor spreading, subduction, convection, and the characteristics of oceanic and continental plates. Learn about plate interactions at boundaries.