Which of the following best explains why tectonic plate movement can lead to the formation of mountain ranges like the Himalayas?

• Tectonic plates slide past one another, creating deep trenches.

• Oceanic plates melt as they rise, forming underwater ridges.

• Continental plates collide and compress, pushing rock upward.

• Plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and form mountains.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Which type of seismic wave cannot travel through liquids?

• P-waves

• S-waves

• Surface waves

• T-waves

Which layer of Earth is liquid?

• Inner core

• Mantle

• Crust

• Outer core

Why does the location of the Hawaiian Islands in the middle of the Pacific Plate support the idea that they were formed by a hotspot?

• Volcanoes usually form at convergent boundaries, and Hawaii is at one.

• The islands are aligned in a chain, showing plate movement over a stationary heat source.

• Earthquakes are strongest at hotspots, and Hawaii has frequent earthquakes.

• All the Hawaiian Islands formed at the same time during a major eruption event.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

What provides evidence of seafloor spreading?

• Mid-ocean trenches

• Sediment thickness

• Magnetic stripes on the seafloor

• Coral reef age

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The youngest oceanic rocks are found:

• Near trenches

• At mid-ocean ridges

• Along continental shelves

• In deep ocean basins

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Which statement best describes Earth’s inner core?

• Liquid metal

• Solid metal

• Molten rock

• Rigid rock

What does the inability of S-waves to pass through Earth's outer core reveal about the outer core's properties?

• The outer core is too dense for S-waves to travel through.

• S-waves slow down in liquid, so they can't be detected.

• S-waves can’t travel through liquids, indicating the outer core is liquid.

• The outer core is made of solid iron, which reflects S-waves.

What evidence supports continental drift?

• Matching mountain chains

• Matching tides

• Matching weather

• Matching volcanic eruptions

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

Which of the following best describes how energy from Earth’s interior drives the movement of tectonic plates?

• Earth’s rotation creates centrifugal force that drags the plates.

• Gravity pulls plates downhill away from mountains.

• Convection currents in the mantle transfer heat, causing plates to shift.

• Tidal forces from the Moon and Sun push Earth’s plates around.