Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes

The video explains plate tectonics, describing how the lithosphere is divided into major plates that move and interact, forming ocean basins, continents, and mountain belts. Heat from Earth's interior causes rocks to expand, rise, and drive plate movement. There are three types of plate boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform. These movements can lead to earthquakes, with challenges in assessing earthquake hazards over time.

What is the lithosphere broken into?

• 10 major pieces

• 15 major pieces

• 20 major pieces

• 5 major pieces

What forms when tectonic plates collide?

• Volcanic islands

• Rift valleys

• Ocean basins

• Mountain belts

What happens to rocks in the Earth's interior as they heat up?

• They remain unchanged

• They contract and sink

• They expand and rise

• They become more dense

What is the primary driver of plate tectonics?

• Magnetic fields

• Solar energy

• Wind currents

• Heat from Earth's interior

Which type of plate boundary is associated with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?

• Convergent margin

• Divergent margin

• Transform fault

• Subduction zone

What is a transform fault?

• Where plates slide past each other

• Where plates collide head-on

• Where one plate goes beneath another

• Where plates spread apart

What is the most visible transform fault?

• Andes Fault

• Himalayan Fault

• Mid-Atlantic Ridge

• San Andreas Fault

What is a convergent margin also known as?

• Divergent zone

• Subduction zone

• Transform boundary

• Rift valley

What happens when sufficient stress builds up at plate boundaries?

• The plates fuse together

• The plates stop moving

• An earthquake occurs

• The plates melt

What is a key challenge in earthquake hazard assessment?

• Measuring the speed of tectonic plates

• Identifying new tectonic plates

• Understanding fault systems over time

• Predicting the exact time of earthquakes