Tectonic Plates and Earth's Crust

Mr. Pastel introduces geochronology, explaining it as the study of Earth's crust age. He describes how the youngest crust is red and the oldest is blue, up to 180 million years old. New seafloor forms when tectonic plates diverge, allowing magma to cool and create new crust. The oldest seafloor is found near the west coast of Africa, east coast of America, and near Japan. Students are instructed to draw tectonic plate boundaries, focusing on divergent areas where new seafloor forms.

What does the term 'geochronology' refer to?

• The study of Earth's crust age

• The study of Earth's atmosphere

• The study of Earth's age

• The study of Earth's oceans

What color represents the youngest crust on the map?

• Red

• Green

• Yellow

• Blue

What is the maximum age of Earth's crust as mentioned?

• 200 million years

• 180 million years

• 150 million years

• 100 million years

Where is new seafloor being formed?

• East coast of America

• Middle of the Atlantic Ocean

• Near Japan

• West coast of Africa

What happens when tectonic plates move apart?

• Mountains form

• New magma rises and forms new crust

• Earthquakes occur

• Volcanoes erupt

Which ocean has new seafloor closer to the west coast of America?

• Indian Ocean

• Atlantic Ocean

• Pacific Ocean

• Arctic Ocean

Where can the oldest seafloor be found?

• Middle of the Atlantic Ocean

• West coast of Africa

• East coast of America

• Near Japan

What is the significance of divergent tectonic plate boundaries?

• They lead to volcanic eruptions

• They form new seafloor

• They create mountains

• They cause earthquakes

What tool is suggested for drawing tectonic plate boundaries?

• CorelDRAW

• Microsoft Paint

• Adobe Photoshop

• Google Drawing

What should you trace to find divergent tectonic plate boundaries?

• New seafloor

• Oldest seafloor

• Volcanoes

• Mountain ranges