Plate Motions Review

Front

What is a convergent plate boundary?

Back

A convergent plate boundary is where two tectonic plates move toward each other, often causing one plate to be forced below the other, leading to earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Front

How do tectonic plates move over time?

Back

Tectonic plates move slowly over millions of years due to convection currents in the mantle, causing them to drift apart, collide, or slide past each other.

Front

What is the mantle made of?

Back

The mantle is made of soft, solid rock that can flow slowly over time.

Front

What is the rate of plate movement?

Back

The rate of plate movement can vary, but tectonic plates typically move at a rate of a few centimeters per year.

Front

What happens when tectonic plates collide?

Back

When tectonic plates collide, they can create mountains, cause earthquakes, and lead to volcanic eruptions.

Front

What is the significance of fossils found on different continents?

Back

Fossils found on different continents suggest that those continents were once connected and have since drifted apart due to plate tectonics.

Front

What is a divergent plate boundary?

Back

A divergent plate boundary is where two tectonic plates move away from each other, often creating new crust as magma rises to the surface.

Front

What is an earthquake?

Back

An earthquake is the shaking of the Earth's surface caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere.

Front

What role do earthquakes play in plate tectonics?

Back

Earthquakes occur at plate boundaries and are a result of the movement and interaction of tectonic plates.

Front

What is subduction?

Back

Subduction is the process where one tectonic plate is forced under another plate into the mantle, often leading to volcanic activity.