🧪Geosphere Unit Test

What is the primary mechanism driving the movement of tectonic plates on Earth's surface?

• A. Ocean currents
• Gravitational pull from the Moon
• C. Mantle convection
• D. Wind patterns

What causes the convection currents in the Earth's mantle?

• A. Differences in temperature and density
• B. Earth's rotation
• C. Magnetic field interactions
• D. Solar radiation

Which process is represented by this diagram?

• A. Rotation
• B. Conduction
• C. Radiation
• D. Convection

Which process is the most significant contributor to the generation of internal heat within the Earth, and how does it affect mantle convection?

• A. Gravitational compression during Earth's formation; it creates convection currents by increasing pressure in the mantle.
• B. Frictional heating from tectonic plate movement; it directly powers mantle convection by increasing the temperature at plate boundaries.
• C. Radioactive decay of unstable isotopes such as uranium-238, thorium-232, and potassium-40; it generates heat that drives mantle convection and influences plate tectonics.
• D. Heat from the Earth's core resulting from residual formation energy; it directly heats the mantle, leading to convection currents without the need for radioactive decay.

Which statement accurately describes the differences in density and temperature between Earth's layers, and how these differences affect geological processes?

• A. The crust has the highest density and lowest temperature, leading to the formation of mountains through isostatic adjustment.
• B. The mantle has a uniform density and temperature throughout, resulting in consistent rates of plate movement and volcanic activity.
• C. The outer core is less dense than the mantle but hotter, driving the Earth's magnetic field through the movement of molten iron.
• D. The inner core is the most dense and hottest layer, creating convection currents in the mantle that drive plate tectonics.

When plate tectonics move, they can form different landforms. Which is LEAST likely to be associated with tectonic plate movement that forms volcanoes?

• A. Hot spot
• B. Rift valley
• C. Subduction zone
• D. Transform boundary

What is the primary difference between P-waves and S-waves?

• A. P-waves travel only through liquids, while S-waves travel only through solids.
• B. P-waves are slower than S-waves and can move through both solids and liquids, while S-waves are faster and only travel through solids.
• C. P-waves travel faster than S-waves and can move through both solids and liquids, while S-waves are slower and only travel through solids.
• D. P-waves and S-waves travel at the same speed but through different materials.

How does a seismograph help triangulate the location of an earthquake?

• A. By measuring the intensity of seismic waves at different depths within the Earth.
• B. By detecting changes in magnetic fields caused by seismic activity.
• C. By recording the arrival times of P-waves and S-waves at different seismograph stations.
• D. By analyzing the chemical composition of rocks near the earthquake epicenter.

Where are most volcanoes located?

• A. At divergent boundaries, transform boundaries and hot spots
• B. At convergent boundaries, divergent boundaries and hot spots
• C. At convergent boundaries, hot spots and transform boundaries
• D. At divergent boundaries, convergent boundaries and transform boundaries

At which type of plate boundary would you most likely find a deep-sea trench?

• A. Convergent boundary (oceanic-oceanic)
• B. Convergent boundary (oceanic-continental)
• C. Divergent boundary
• D. Transform boundary