Forces in Earth's Crust

A teacher asks students to make a model of a transform plate boundary. The students use blocks to represent tectonic plates and slide the blocks past each other in the directions of the arrows as shown.

Which event can the students best demonstrate with their model?

• An earthquake

• A volcanic eruption

• Formation of a rift valley

• Building up of a mountain

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

The diagram below shows a model of the movement of two tectonic plates. When the plates collide, one plate often moves below the other plate.

The rising magma that can result from this type of plate movement may produce-

• fossil layers

• volcanic islands

• deep sea sediment

• sea floor spreading

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The model below shows two continental plates.

The folded mountains in this model form at which type of plate boundary?

• Transform boundary

• Divergent boundary

• Subduction boundary

• Convergent boundary

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

This diagram shows what can happen at the boundary of two tectonic plates located beneath an ocean floor.

Which crustal feature can form as a result of what happens to these tectonic plates?

• Subduction of ocean crust

• Formation of mountain range

• Uplifting of the continental crust

• Development of new sea floor

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

This diagram shows the single, huge continent known as Pangaea that existed some 250 million years ago (mya).

The breaking apart of Pangaea to form the continents that exist today is used as evidence to support the-

• big bang theory

• plate tectonic theory

• global warming theory

• magnetic field theory

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

One piece of evidence that supports the Theory of Plate Tectonics is the discovery of what in both South America and Africa?

• Insects on both continents have similar feeding habits

• The rates of sedimentary rock formation are similar

• The ancient atmosphere in both places were identical

• Fossil remains of the same land dwelling animal were found on each continent

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

One piece of evidence that supports the Theory of Plate Tectonics is found in the observation of rocks on either side of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, shown in the picture provided. Plate Tectonic theory is supported because as you move out form the the Mid Atlantic Ridge, the rocks-

• have higher iron content

• become thicker and thicker

• are increasingly older

• are made of smaller particles

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Every few hundred thousand years the magnetic poles of Earth reverse. Rocks that contain iron provide a record of both normal and reversed magnetic poles. The pattern of normal and reversed magnetic poles as recorded in the rock on either side of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge provide evidence supporting Plate Tectonic Theory because-

• The band of rock showing normal and reversed poles are not all the same width.

• The symmetric pattern shows where plates are moving from each other.

• The composition of the rock changed every time the plates pushed against each other.

• Deposits of iron in the rock were only made when the plates stopped moving.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The Earth's plates are constantly move. They move at a rate of 1-2 inches per year. All this movement does and could cause--

• earthquakes

• heavy wind storms from the east

• an increase of atmospheric pressure

• a disturbance in sound waves

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

What are the two types of crust?

• ocean and basin

• lower and upper

• continental and oceanic

• thick and thin