Plate Tectonics Benchmark Review Study guide for the exam

Plate Tectonics  How have Geologists learned about the interior of the Earth?  Since they can’t dig down into the core due to its heat and pressure, they have learned by studying seismic waves and rock samples.

Plate Tectonics  What are the layers of Earth’s interior?  Make sure to know the order of these layers.  Outer – crust  Under the crust – mantle  The inner two parts – outer core and inner core

Plate Tectonics  Heat transfer from one object to another by touch, or within an object is called ________  The transfer of heat through open space is called _____________  Conduction  Radiation

Plate Tectonics  The transfer of heat within a fluid, either gas or liquid is called __________  The movement of fluids in the mantle are an example of _________ ________  Convection  Convection currents

Plate Tectonics  What types of evidence did Alfred Wegener use to support his theory of plate tectonics?  Evidence from land features  Evidence from fossils  Evidence from ancient climate zones

Plate Tectonics  Why did other Scientists reject Wegener’s ideas?  They didn’t like him.  He wore silly hats.  He couldn’t give an explanation for the force that pushes or pulls the plates (sea-floor spreading).  They were mean.

Plate Tectonics  What is the theory of plate tectonics?  Pieces of Earth’s lithosphere are in slow, constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle.

Plate Tectonics  What are the three types of plate boundaries?  What type of boundary created the San Andreas Fault?  Colliding, spreading, and sliding  Sliding

Plate Tectonics  Name the three types of stress that act on Earth’s crust.  What directions do they move?  Shearing, tension and compression.  Shearing – across  Tension – apart  Compression - together

Plate Tectonics  When two continental plates collide they can create what land feature from pushing into each other?  Give an example of this type of mountain range.  A mountain range  The Himalayas

Plate Tectonics  When earthquakes strike they produce seismic waves. What direction do the seismic waves move?  They move away from the focus in all directions.

Plate Tectonics  Where do most faults occur? CCities CChina PPlate boundaries EEurope NNone of the above

Plate Tectonics  What are the three scales used to measure seismic waves?  Which one measure damage levels?  Which one assigns a magnitude to seismic waves  Mercalli, Richter, and Moment Magnitude scales  Mercalli scale  Both the Moment Magnitude and Richter scales

Plate Tectonics  What is the name of the world’s major volcanic belt that circles the Pacific Ocean?  The Ring of Fire

Plate Tectonics  Why are there often earthquakes along the Pacific coast of North America?  The Pacific plate and the North American plate meet on the Pacific coast.

Plate Tectonics  How did the Hawaiian Islands form?  They formed, and are still forming, over a hot spot in the middle of the Pacific plate.

Plate Tectonics  What causes magma to erupt to the surface of Earth?  Although silica affects the type of magma, it is the dissolved gases that create the force that causes eruptions.

Plate Tectonics  What are the three stages in a volcano’s life? Describe them.  Active – currently erupting or may erupt at any time  Dormant – not currently erupting but may erupt again in the distant future  Extinct – will never erupt again

Plate Tectonics  What are the names of landforms created by magma?  What are the names of landforms created by lava and ash?  Batholiths, sills, dikes and volcanic necks  Lava plateaus, calderas, soils, composite, cinder cone, shield volcanoes

Plate Tectonics  Remember to study your notes and this PowerPoint to prepare for the test!