Tectonic Plates

Sometimes tectonic plates do not move easily past one another, and the plates become stuck. Forces build up, and when the plates finally move, tension is released, as shown below.

The sudden movement of the plates is caused by (8.6C) —

• the mass of the plates

• gravitational force

• unbalanced forces

• the weight of the plates

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

Scientists recently discovered that rocks collected from the Franklin Mountains in West Texas and rocks collected from mountains in eastern Antarctica were exactly the same age. Further research showed that the rocks were chemically and geologically the same and came from the same magma source. This discovery provides evidence of — (8.9A)

• coastal erosion

• ocean currents

• plate tectonics

• glacial melting

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Rift valleys can form when fractures in Earth’s crust widen. The valley walls slowly move at a rate of only a few millimeters a year. Which of these best describes the type of tectonic activity that forms rift valleys? (8.9B)

• Rift valleys form where a continental plate moves under an oceanic plate.

• Rift valleys form where a plate slides horizontally past another plate.

• Rift valleys form where two plates move away from each other.

• Rift valleys form where an oceanic plate moves under another oceanic plate.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The map shows some of Earth’s plate tectonic boundaries. (8.9B)

Based on the map, volcanic activity would most likely be found at —

• Location W

• Location X

• Location Y

• Location Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What causes the tectonic plates to move? (8.6B)

• Ocean Currents

• Convection in the mantle

• Volcanoes

• The Coriolis Effect

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The San Andreas fault is a transform fault. The map below shows a student’s approximation of where the fault line crosses through the United States. Students were asked to make maps predicting which way land would most likely move over thousands of years.

Which map best predicts the likely movement of land along the fault line over thousands of years? (8.9B)

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A mid-ocean ridge separates the Pacific plate and the Nazca plate off the western coast of South America.

Which statement best describes the relative motions of the Pacific and Nazca plates? (8.9B)

• The Pacific and Nazca plates are both moving to the east.

• The Pacific and Nazca plates are both moving to the west.

• The Pacific plate is moving to the west, and the Nazca plate is moving to the east.

• The Pacific plate is moving to the east, and the Nazca plate is moving to the west.

The Hawaiian Islands are located in an area where an unusually hot part of the part of the mantle rises through the crust causing volcanic activity. What is this process called? (8.6B)

• Divergent boundary

• Hot spot

• Convergent boundary

• Transform boundary

The image shows a plate boundary. Arrows have been added to indicate the movement of the plates.

What plate boundary feature is also shown? (8.9B)

• A ridge formed by an inactive convergent boundary

• A valley forming at an active divergent boundary

• A fault forming at an active transform boundary

• A volcano formed by an active transform boundary

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The map below shows the locations of four active volcanoes in the Caribbean Sea.

What do these volcanoes indicate about plate tectonics in the region? (8.9B)

• The volcanoes form an island arc, indicating a converging plate boundary.

• The volcanoes form a line, indicating a diverging plate boundary.

• Two plates are moving past each other, causing faulting and magma formation.

• Two plates are moving apart, creating new seafloor.