Plate Tectonics Quiz

What does the theory of plate tectonics explain?

• Weather patterns

• Ocean currents

• Global distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountains

• Plant growth

What causes the movement of Earth's plates?

• Wind currents

• Solar radiation

• Convection currents in the Earth's mantle

• Earth's magnetic field

Which layer of the Earth is solid and denser than surface rocks?

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer core

• Inner core

Which layer of the Earth is semi-molten and about 2900 km thick?

• Inner core

• Outer core

• Mantle

• Crust

What is the primary difference between oceanic and continental crust?

• Oceanic crust is thicker

• Continental crust is denser

• Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust

• Continental crust is semi-molten

What happens at a destructive plate boundary?

• New crust is created

• Crust is destroyed

• Plates move side by side

• Plates move apart

Which type of plate boundary creates new oceanic crust?

• Destructive boundary

• Conservative boundary

• Constructive boundary

• Collision zone

Which boundary is associated with plates moving past each other, causing earthquakes?

• Destructive boundary

• Collision zone

• Conservative boundary

• Constructive boundary

Which boundary results in the creation of fold mountains?

• Constructive boundary

• Conservative boundary

• Collision zone

• Destructive boundary

What is the main cause of earthquakes?

• Ocean currents

• Pressure from plate movement

• Wind erosion

• Sunspots