2.3 Earth's Dynamic Surface: Plate Tectonics and Topography

Which of the following best describes how plate tectonics contribute to Earth's changing landscape?

• Plates remain completely stationary
• Plates move and interact, creating mountains, valleys, and earthquakes
• Plates only move underwater
• Plates change shape but not position

In a convergent boundary, what happens when tectonic plates meet?

• They smoothly slide past each other
• They create new seafloor
• They move toward each other, potentially creating mountains and volcanoes
• They completely dissolve

What unique geological feature is typically associated with divergent boundaries?

• Deep ocean trenches
• Mountain ranges
• Mid-ocean ridges
• Volcanic islands

Which type of fault involves horizontal movement of plates?

• Normal fault
• Reverse fault
• Strike-slip fault
• Convergent fault

What makes the Hawaiian Islands volcanic chain a unique example of plate tectonics?

• It demonstrates volcanic activity near plate boundaries
• It shows how plates move over a stationary hotspot
• It represents a transform boundary
• It indicates constant mountain formation

Which seismic wave travels fastest through Earth's interior?

• S waves
• P waves
• Surface waves
• Shear waves

What distinguishes a reverse fault from a normal fault?

• Direction of hanging wall movement
• Speed of plate movement
• Depth of the fault
• Earthquake magnitude

Which boundary type is most likely to produce large mountain ranges?

• Transform boundaries
• Divergent boundaries
• Convergent boundaries
• Stationary boundaries

What do scientists use to locate earthquake epicenters?

• Satellite imagery
• Triangulation
• Thermal mapping
• Geological carbon dating

How do S waves differ from P waves in seismic wave detection?

• S waves are faster
• S waves only travel through solids
• P waves only travel through liquids
• S waves can travel through both solids and liquids