Plate Tectonics

Front

The movement of the tectonic plates is caused by

Back

convection currents in the Asthenosphere

Front

In some areas of the world, like California and Japan, earthquakes are a common occurrence. How can this best be explained?

Back

Both areas are on the boundary of active plates, the motion of the plates causes earthquakes.

Front

Subduction zones occur on Earth where dense oceanic crust dives under more buoyant continental crust. These boundaries are characterized by a deep ocean trench next to a high continental mountain range, large numbers of earthquakes and volcanoes. All of this is further evidence for the

Back

theory of plate tectonics.

Front

There are three types of plate boundaries. Which choice is NOT a type of plate boundary? Options: convergent, divergent, transform

Back

thrust

Front

Observe this diagram of a plate boundary. One statement BEST describes what is happening. It is that: the oceanic crust is melting, the denser ceanic crust is subducting under the less dense oceanic crust, volcanic islands are forming, the tectonic plates are moving away from each other.

Back

the denser ceanic crust is subducting under the less dense oceanic crust

Front

The map in the picture shows tectonic plate boundaries. This map would be useful in predicting the location of future

Back

earthquakes

Front

What geological forces might be responsible for this range of mountains? Options: diverging tectonic plates, erosion of the land by the ocean, converging tectonic plates, deposition of sediments by the ocean

Back

converging tectonic plates

Front

Earthquake epicenters were mapped for a 35 year period. The black dots indicate these epicenters. The black dots appear along what feature on Earth?

Back

plate boundaries

Front

The Earth’s surface is not a solid surface but is divided into

Back

continental and oceanic plates.

Front

Geologists have long recognized that earthquakes are not randomly distributed on Earth but occur in concentrated areas that coincide with __________ and provide evidence for the theory of __________.

Back

plate boundaries; plate tectonics