Plate Tectonics Review

What forms when oceanic plates move apart from each other (diverge)?

• New crust/seafloor is formed at places called mid-ocean ridges

• Volcanoes form on the land along edges of plate boundaries

• Mountains form because of the uplift of material

• Faults, like San Andreas, form

A mid-ocean ridge is located at the boundary of two oceanic plates. Which diagram correctly models the relative plate motion on each side of a mid-ocean ridge?

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Scientist believe that convection currents in the upper portion of the mantle called the ______ are responsible for the movement of the plates that form the Earth's crust.

• asthenosphere

• lithosphere

• inner core

• outer core

How does the Oceanic crust compare to the Continental crust?

• A) The Oceanic crust is more dense

• B) The Oceanic crust is less dense

• C) The Oceanic crust has the same density as the Continental crust

At which plate boundary is one lithospheric plate sliding under another?

• A) Nazca Plate and Antarctic Plate

• B) Pacific Plate and Indian-Australian Plate

• C) Indian-Australian Plate and Antarctic Plate

• D) Nazca Plate and Pacific Plate

Which type of tectonic plate boundary is found between the South American Plate and the Scotia

Plate?

• A) transform

• B) convergent

• C) divergent

• D) complex or uncertain

A strong earthquake that occurs on the ocean floor could result in the formation of

• A) a tsunami

• B) a delta

• C) an El Niño event

• D) an ocean current

Which statement correctly compares seismic P-waves with seismic S-waves?

• A) P-waves travel faster than S-waves and pass through Earth's liquid zones.

• B) P-waves travel faster than S-waves and do not pass through Earth's liquid zones.

• C) P-waves travel slower than S-waves and pass through Earth's liquid zones.

• D) P-waves travel slower than S-waves and do not pass through Earth's liquid zones.

How long would it take for the first S-wave to arrive at a seismic station 4,000 kilometers away from

the epicenter of an earthquake?

• A) 5 min 40 sec

• B) 7 min 0 sec

• C) 12 min 40 sec

• D) 13 min 20 sec

The epicenter of an earthquake is located 2,800 kilometers from a seismic station. Approximately

how long did the S-wave take to travel from the epicenter to the station?

• A) 11 min 15 sec

• B) 9 min 35 sec

• C) 5 min 20 sec

• D) 4 min 20 sec