Regents Earth Science - Plate Tectonics and The Interior

The diagram represents a model of Earth’s surface and internal structure. Letters A, B, C, and D represent four different layers. Some depths below Earth’s surface are shown. Which Earth layer is inferred to be composed of solid nickel and iron?

• A

• B

• C

• D

In which area of Earth’s interior is the pressure most likely to be 1.2 million atmospheres?

• Asthenosphere
• Stiffer Mantle
• Inner Core
• Outer Core

At which depth below Earth’s surface is the interface between Earth’s outer core and stiffer mantle located?

• 700 km
• 2900 km
• 2000 km
• 5100 km

Scientists have classified Earth’s interior into the known layers based primarily on evidence gained by studying

• deep drill cores
• volcanic eruptions
• gravity measurements
• earthquake seismic waves

According to the plate tectonics theory, the Peru-Chile Trench and the Andes Mountains formed along the west coast of South American because the South American Plate

• collided with the Nazca Plate
• collided with the North American Plate
• slid away from the Nazca Plate
• slid away from the North American Plate

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The movement of tectonic plates is inferred by many scientists to be driven by

• tidal motions in the hydrosphere
• density differences in the troposphere
• convection currents in the asthenosphere
• solidification in the lithosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Which features are commonly formed at the plate boundaries where continental crust converges with oceanic crust?

• large volcanic mountain ranges parallel to the coast at the center of the continents
• A deep ocean trench and a continental volcanic mountain range near the coast
• An underwater volcanic mountain range and rift valley on the ocean ridge near the coast
• Long chains of mid-ocean volcanic islands perpendicular to the coast

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The map to the right shows the continents of Africa and South America, the ocean between them, and the ocean ridge and transform faults. Locations A and D are on the continents. Locations B and C are on the ocean floor. The oldest basaltic crust is most likely located at point

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

How many seismic stations must report seismogram information in order to locate an epicenter?

• One
• Two
• Three
• Four

The crust and uppermost part of the mantle make up which layer of Earth?

• inner core
• asthenosphere
• lithosphere
• upper mantle