Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes

The outermost layer of the Earth is called the _____________.

• outer core

• mesosphere

• lithosphere

• asthenosphere

What are the mechanisms that have been proposed to explain the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates?

• slab pull and sea-floor spreading

• mantle convection and continental drift

• mantle convection, ridge push, and slab pull

• sea-floor spreading and continental drift

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The Rocky Mountains formed when the Pacific Plate collided with the North American Plate. Which of the following terms describe this process?

• ridge push

• divergent boundary

• transform boundary

• convergent boundary

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What is the plastic-like layer on which the tectonic plates move?

• outer core

• mesosphere

• lithosphere

• asthenosphere

The motion of tectonic plates can cause both slow and rapid changes in Earth’s surface. Which is an example of a rapid change?

• earthquake

• sea-floor spreading

• mountain building

• formation of an ocean trench

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

What happens at a transform tectonic plate boundary?

• Two tectonic plates scrape or slide past each other, forming long fault lines.

• One tectonic plate pulls apart into two new plates, forming a rift or ridge.

• Two tectonic plates pull away from one another, decreasing the elastic deformation.

• Two tectonic plates collide with one another, causing subduction or mountain building.

What process takes place in the mantle?

• Hot rock becomes less dense and starts to move in the direction of the outer core.

• Hot rock expands, becomes more dense, and rises toward the surface of the Earth.

• Hot rock expands, becomes less dense, and rises toward the surface of the Earth.

• Hot rock becomes more dense and starts to move in the direction of the outer core.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Which type of stress causes deformation that leads to earthquakes at converging plate boundaries?

• tension

• stretching

• shear stress

• compression

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

What causes an earthquake to happen?

• Surface rocks move suddenly as a result of physical stress.

• Rocks along an underground fault move suddenly and release energy.

• Large amounts of rock suddenly shift downward when large holes form under them.

• Energy is transferred to rock layers from convection currents in the oceans and the ocean atmosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

A 5.0 magnitude earthquake is ___________ time stronger than a 3.0 magnitude.

• 2

• 20

• 10

• 100