Earthquakes and volcanoes

Remember: Why does Nepal experience a large number of earthquakes?

• Nepal sits in the middle of a single tectonic plate

• Nepal sits on the boundary between two tectonic plates

• I'm not sure

Understand: The Indian and Eurasian plates are colliding to produce the Himalayan mountains. What type of plate boundary is this?

• Divergent

• Convergent

• Transform

• I'm not sure

Remember: The point where an earthquake starts is called the:

• seismic wave

• epicentre

• source

• I'm not sure

Apply: Why was the 2015 Nepal earthquake so destructive?

• The focus was in the middle of a tectonic plate

• The focus was relatively close to the Earth's surface

• The epicentre was especially large

• I'm not sure

According to the map, which of the following countries experience a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions?

• Brazil

• Indonesia

• Japan

• South Africa

• I'm not sure

Find Australia on the map. Why doesn't Australia experience many large earthquakes compared to some other countries?

• Australia is located on a plate boundary

• Australia experiences many volcanic eruptions instead of earthquakes

• Australia is located in the middle of a tectonic plate

• I'm not sure

Apply: Find New Zealand on the map. Which of the following statements are correct?

• New Zealand is located at a plate boundary between two tectonic plates

• New Zealand is located in the middle of a tectonic plate

• New Zealand experiences many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

• New Zealand experiences many volcanic eruptions but no earthquakes

• I'm not sure

Apply: Describe how the pattern of earthquakes relates to plate boundaries, as shown on the map.

Answer explanation

Example response:

Most of the earthquakes shown on the map occur on or near plate boundaries. A few scattered earthquakes also occur in the middle oftectonic plates.

Apply: Describe how the pattern of volcanoes relates to plate boundaries, as shown on the map.

Complete the sentences to summarize how earthquakes and volcanoes are related to tectonic plate boundaries. The Earth's surface is composed of ________ that are continually interacting at ________. These interactions can result in ________ and volcanic eruptions. Therefore, any country that is located near a plate boundary has an ________ risk of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

c

e

b

a

tectonic plates

increased

plate boundaries

earthquakes

decreased

Answer explanation