Plate Motion

Which statement best describes Earth's outer layer underneath the surface in the image?

• Underneath the soil, Earth's outer layer is made of water.

• Underneath both the soil and the ocean, Earth's outer layer is made of sand and water.

• Underneath the soil, Earth's outer layer is made of hard, solid rock. Underneath the ocean, Earth's outer layer is made of sand.

• Underneath both the soil and the ocean, Earth's outer layer is made of hard, solid rock.

Dr. Choi and his team of geologists have been studying GPS data that shows that two plates moved apart. Which diagram shows what happened between the two plates as they moved away from each other

• Diagram A

• Diagram B

• Diagram C

• Diagram D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Fossil remains of Glossopteris (an extinct plant with large leaves) have been discovered in India and Australia. When they were all living, all the Glossopteris were located together on land, but now the Glossopteris fossils are separated by an ocean. What could explain how these gossils got so far apart?

• India and Australia are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.

• India and Australia are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.

• India and Australia are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.

• India and Australia are parts of different plates. The plates were sometimes pushed far apart by earthquakes, and soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

A team of geologists wants to study hard, solid rock under the surface of Earth. The team is considering drilling down in the North Atlantic (1) and in Sierra Leone (2). Where will the team find hard, solid rock?

• Only under 2, because Earth's outer layer is made of hard, solid rock under continents, but not under the ocean.

• Under 1 and 2, because Earth's entire outer layer is made of hard, solid rock.

• Neither under 1 nor 2, because there is water under both places.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Dr. Steiner and her team have been using GPS to track two plates that are moving toward each other. Which diagram shows what is happening at the place where the plates are moving toward each other?

• Diagram A

• Diagram B

• Diagram C

• Diagram D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Similar rock formations have been discovered in the United States and Morocco. These rock formations were formed at the same time and are made of the same types of rocks. What could explain how these rocks got so far apart?

• The United States and Morocco are parts of different plates. The plates were sometimes pushed far apart by earthquakes, and soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of both plates.

• The United States and Morocco are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.

• The United States and Morocco are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.

• The United States and Morocco are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Plates collide at this type of boundary.

• Convergent

• Divergent

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Scientists have discovered Mesosaurus fossils in South America and Africa. When they were living, all the Mesosaurus lived together. However, now there is an ocean between the Mesosaurus fossils. What could explain how these fossils got so far apart?

• South America and Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.

• South America and Africa are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.

• South America and Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.

• South America and Africa are parts of different plates. The plates were sometimes pushed far apart by earthquakes, and soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Scientists have been mapping earthquakes and volcanoes to find patterns. What can you tell about patterns on this map?

• Volcanic activity and earthquakes happened in similar areas.

• Volcanic activity and earthquakes can cause damage to buildings and hurt people.

• Volcanic activity and earthquakes happened in random locations all over the map.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Which type of landform is found at a divergent boundary?

• Mid-Ocean Ridge

• Trench

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3