Plate Tectonics and Landforms

Front

What is a divergent boundary?

Back

A divergent boundary is a tectonic plate boundary where two plates move away from each other, often resulting in the formation of new crust, such as mid-ocean ridges.

Front

What is shear stress?

Back

Shear stress is a type of stress that causes material to twist or become distorted, often occurring at transform boundaries.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

Front

Define a tectonic plate.

Back

A tectonic plate is a large, slow-moving piece of Earth's lithosphere that interacts with other plates at their boundaries.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Front

What happens at a transform fault?

Back

At a transform fault, two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally, which can cause earthquakes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Front

How many major tectonic plates are there?

Back

There are 15 major tectonic plates that make up the Earth's lithosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Front

What is a convergent boundary?

Back

A convergent boundary is a tectonic plate boundary where two plates move towards each other, often resulting in subduction or mountain formation.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the upper mantle.

Front

What is a fault?

Back

A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock, which can lead to earthquakes when stress is released.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Front

What is the difference between tension and compression?

Back

Tension is a stress that pulls material apart, while compression is a stress that pushes material together.

Front

What is a hot spot?

Back

A hot spot is a location on the Earth's surface that has experienced active volcanism for a long period, often far from tectonic plate boundaries.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3