Understanding Plate Tectonics

Who initially proposed the concept that led to the theory of plate tectonics?

• Isaac Newton

• Alfred Wegener

• Charles Darwin

• Albert Einstein

What is the name given to the solid outer crust of the Earth?

• Biosphere

• Lithosphere

• Asthenosphere

• Mesosphere

Which type of crust is denser and thinner?

• Continental crust

• Mantle crust

• Lithospheric crust

• Oceanic crust

What drives the movement of the tectonic plates?

• Magnetic fields

• Solar radiation

• Convection currents

• Gravity

What phenomenon explains why hot material in the asthenosphere moves?

• Insulation

• Radiation

• Convection

• Conduction

What type of plate boundary is characterized by plates sliding past each other?

• Subduction zone

• Convergent boundary

• Transform boundary

• Divergent boundary

Which feature is commonly found at transform boundaries?

• Mountain ranges

• Earthquakes

• Volcanoes

• Ocean trenches

What forms at a divergent boundary?

• Earthquakes

• Mountains

• Mid-ocean ridges

• Volcanoes

What evidence supports the theory of plate tectonics?

• Global temperature variations

• Distribution of deserts

• Fossil records

• Alternating bands of magnetism in oceanic crust

What is a hotspot in geological terms?

• A popular tourist destination with geothermal activity

• A region of intense solar radiation

• An area with high biodiversity

• A location with a concentrated area of magma in the mantle