Unit 2 Plate Tectonics and Volcanoes

What is the source of energy that drives Earth's plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions?

• tidal energy from Earth's oceans

• heat energy from Earth's molten layers

• magnetic energy from Earth's magnetic field

• light energy from the Sun that reaches Earth

Why are volcanoes so common in mountain ranges such as the Andes?

• The Andes are at a high elevation, which is necessary for volcano cone formation.

• The Andes absorb more solar radiation and create the heat necessary to form lava.

• The Andes are located largely in rainforests where the hot climate supports volcano formation.

• The Andes are in a region where a crustal plate is moving under another plate, which causes volcano formation.

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Tectonic plates slide past each other at a transform boundary. Often, the plates get stuck and pressure builds up. Eventually, the plates snap free and release a large amount of energy as seismic waves. What event is being described here?

• a tsunami

• a storm surge

• an earthquake

• a volcanic eruption

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

What is the biggest difference between a scientific law and a scientific theory?

• Laws explain the physical sciences, while theories explain only the life sciences.

• Laws are demonstrated in nature frequently, while theories are demonstrated less regularly.

• Laws take only temporary events into account, while theories discuss long-term phenomena.

• Laws describe the events that occur in what nature under certain conditions, while theories explain how nature works.

Jamal notices the layers in a rock formation while hiking in the mountains. A park ranger tells him that in this formation, the lowest layers of rock are NOT the oldest. What could explain this situation?

• The rock was formed on an ancient ocean floor.

• The rock was located in a desert climate.

• The layers of rock had shifted from their original position.

• The layers of rocks had been subjected to weathering and erosion.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which of these BEST describes the lithosphere?

• The lithosphere is made of rock that is cooler and easily changed.

• The lithosphere is made of rock that is highly compressed and very hot.

• The lithosphere is made of rock that is molten and does not have a solid shape.

• The lithosphere is made of rock that is hotter and stronger than the other layers.

Fossils of the same plants and animals species have been found on continents that are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Which of the following claims does this evidence support?

• These animals and plants crossed the Atlantic Ocean

• The Atlantic Ocean was once a large body of freshwater

• The continents that are now separated by the Atlantic Ocean have the same kinds of organisms today as they did millions of years ago

• The continents that are now separated by the Atlantic Ocean once formed a single landmass

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Volcanoes often form at convergent plate boundaries. Which set of arrows represents a convergent plate boundary?

• [Image of two arrows pointing toward each other]

• [Image of two arrows pointing away from each other]

• [Image of one arrow pointing up and one arrow pointing down]

• [Image of two arrows pointing up]

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A geologist examines a rock outcrop, an area where horizontal layers of sediment from deep within Earth have been exposed. She notices that one layer contains materials that look like they belong near water. This layer contains smooth rocks and bits of sand that look like they were worn down over time. How could the law of superposition help the geologist determine how old the layer of rock is?

• by measuring the radioactive decay of radioactive elements present in the sediment

• by locating cracks and faults in the rock layers and comparing them to recorded earthquakes in the area

• by recognizing that the layers below it are older and that the layers above it are younger

• by classifying fossils from a particular time period in history and recognizing rock layers without fossils as the oldest

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

A class is exploring seafloor spreading which creates new ocean basins. The students want to learn more about how igneous rock is formed deep within the bottom of the ocean. Which type of plate boundaries should the students study in order to understand seafloor spreading?

• an area where one crustal plate slides underneath another crustal plate

• an area where two crustal plates pull away from each other

• an area where two crustal plates collide, creating upthrust

• an area where two crustal plates slide past each other