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WorksheetsGeophysical Hazards- Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes
Total questions: 22
Worksheet time: 14mins
Which TWO of these pictures show a geophysical hazard?
What is the name of this layer of the Earth?
The Outer Core
The Inner Core
The Mantle
The Magma
Which THREE of these statements are TRUE about the Earth's crust?
It is divided into tectonic plates.
Continental crust is older than oceanic crust.
The plates move around slowly.
Continental crust is denser than oceanic crust.
Alfred Wegener came up with theory of 'Continental Drift' in 1912. Which THREE pieces of evidence below did he use to try and prove his theory?
Similar plant fossils, such as Glossopteris Ferns, have been found in continents that are now very far apart.
Some minerals such as iron, gold and copper are found in large quantities at the borders between where continents used to be.
Similar dinosaur fossils, such as Mesosaurus, that could not swim very far, have been found in continents separated by oceans.
The shape of India fits perfectly into the shape of South America.
This diagram shows how convection currents in the mantle cause the plates on the crust to move. What is happening at point number 6?
Liquid rock that has been heated up becomes lighter and rises towards the surface.
The magma has reached the lower mantle where it starts to heat up again.
The magma reaches the surface and cools down. It becomes heavier and is pushed to one side.
The hot core heats the lower mantle.
Which of the following diagrams show a conservative plate boundary?
At which plate boundary would you find a subduction zone?
Constructive
Destructive
Collision
Conservative
At which plate boundary is new crust being constantly created?
Constructive
Destructive
Conservative
Collision
The Himalaya mountain range has been created by which type of plate boundary?
Constructive
Destructive
Conservative
Collision
At which TWO of these plate boundaries would you NOT find volcanoes?
Constructive
Collision
Destructive
Conservative
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a result of which plate boundary?
Destructive
Conservative
Collision
Constructive
An earthquake happens when two plates become stuck and pressure builds up. When the pressure is released this causes a sudden jolt that releases energy. What is the point underground that this sudden movement happens?
The fault
The epicentre
The focus
The magnitude
What is another term that describes the strength and power of an earthquake?
The margin
The magnitude
The Richter
The Mercalli
The Richter Scale is used to measure the strength of an earthquake. How much more powerful would a 9 earthquake be compared to a 6 earthquake on this scale?
10 times
100 times
1,000 times
10,000 times
What does the Mercalli Scale measure?
The number of people killed in an earthquake.
The amount of shaking that the ground experiences during an earthquake.
The observed amount of damage that the earthquake causes.
The number of houses destroyed by the earthquake.
What does Point 2 on this diagram of an earthquake show?
The focus
The epicentre
The fault-line
The seismic waves
Which TWO of these statements are secondary effects of an earthquake?
Disease
Collapsed buildings
Unemployment
Broken water and sewage pipes
Which TWO of these statements are geological reasons why an earthquake may be more destructive?
The earthquake has a high magnitude.
The earthquake's focus is close to its epicentre.
There are few hospitals nearby.
The earthquake strikes an urban area.
Which THREE of these socio-political reasons may explain why an earthquake is less destructive?
Roads, railways, and bridges are built to a high standard with strict government regulations.
There is the technology and skilled people to monitor earthquakes and react quickly should an earthquake happen.
The country lacks communication, radio, and internet infrastructure.
The population is well-educated about what to do if an earthquake happens and the government ensures regular drills are carried out by businesses and schools.
Which TWO of these economic reasons might make an earthquake more destructive?
The country has the money and equipment to launch an immediate rescue operation.
The country has access to technology such as computers to help coordinate a rescue operation.
The country has to rely on foreign aid to help its rescue and recovery operation.
The country does not have stores of food, water and medical equipment to help save lives after an earthquake.
Which TWO of these statements describe methods of predicting an earthquake?
Studying historical records of earthquakes along plate margins may help determine where the next one might occur.
Observing unusual animal behaviour. Dogs, snakes, birds and cats have been known to behave strangely just before an earthquake happens.
Advise families to prepare earthquake emergency kits.
In countries such as the USA and Japan, all buildings need to be constructed with deep foundations, overlapping bricks and strong roof lintels.
Which THREE of these statements describe methods of protecting against the damage caused by an earthquake?
Special glass has been designed by the Japanese that sticks together when shattered and therefore wont fall down on people.
In larger, taller buildings, automatic shutters come down to cover windows during an earthquake which stops any broken glass from falling out onto people below.
Detecting changes in water pressure underground and small changes in the shape of the ground.
Embedding rubber shock absorbers into the foundations of buildings slows down the vibrations from the earthquake.
