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Year 9 Science - Earth and Space Sciences - Plate tectonics

Total questions: 36

Worksheet time: 19mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which is NOT evidence for continental drift?

a)

The continents fit together like puzzle pieces.

b)

The same fossils were found far apart from each other.

c)

Seafloor spreading.

d)

Different languages are spoken in different countries.

2.

This is a map of the Great Global Rift System. Which statement about it is INCORRECT?

a)

It is where seafloor spreading occurs.

b)

It is where plates converge.

c)

It is where plates diverge.

d)

It is where new oceanic crust is being formed.

3.

What was used as evidence for seafloor spreading? Select all correct answers.

a)

The age of the sea floor.

b)

Sediment thickness.

c)

Magnetic striping.

d)

Underwater volcanoes.

4.

The seafloor gets younger the farther away from the ridge.

True or false?

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

5.

The sediments get thicker the farther away from the ridge.

True or false?

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

6.

The direction of the magnetic field in the rocks is not always the same.

True or false?

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

7.

Study the image and information next to it. Did the magnetic field point north or south when the green stripe was formed?

a)

North

b)

South

8.

True or false: The rocks in the oceanic crust are usually younger than the rocks in the continental crust.

a)

True

b)

False

9.

How many plates are there?

a)

Fewer than 5

b)

Between 5 and 10

c)

Between 10 and 20

d)

More than 20

10.

Study the diagram. What do you find at locations where the continental and oceanic crust collide?

a)

Friction

b)

Mid-ocean ridge

c)

Subduction zone

d)

Rising magma

11.

Study the diagram. What do you find at locations where oceanic plates move away from each other?

a)

Friction

b)

Mid-ocean ridge

c)

Subduction zone

d)

Rising magma

12.

Study the diagram. What force makes the plates move?

a)

Friction

b)

Mid-ocean ridge

c)

Subduction zone

d)

Rising magma

13.

Study the diagram. What is responsible for the convection currents?

a)

Friction

b)

Mid-ocean ridge

c)

Subduction zone

d)

Rising magma

14.

At which type of boundary are you most likely going to find volcanoes?

a)

Diverging

b)

Converging

c)

Transform

15.

At which type of boundary are you most likely going to experience frequent earthquakes?

a)

Diverging

b)

Converging

c)

Transform

16.

At which type of boundary are you most likely going to find ridges?

a)

Diverging

b)

Converging

c)

Transform

17.

Which one is a seismometer?

a)
b)
18.

Which one is a seismograph?

a)
b)
19.

Which waves arrive first?

a)

P-waves

b)

S-waves

c)

surface waves (aka L-waves)

20.

Which waves arrive last?

a)

P-waves

b)

S-waves

c)

surface waves (aka L-waves)

21.

Which waves travel the fastest?

a)

P-waves

b)

S-waves

c)

surface waves (aka L-waves)

22.

Which waves are the most destructive?

a)

P-waves

b)

S-waves

c)

surface waves (aka L-waves)

23.

Which waves travel as transverse waves and go up and down?

a)

P-waves

b)

S-waves

c)

surface waves (aka L-waves)

24.

Which waves travel as longitudinal waves and move the ground back and forth?

a)

P-waves

b)

S-waves

c)

surface waves (aka L-waves)

25.

What is the name of the former supercontinent?

a)

Pangaea

b)

Laurasia

c)

Gondwana

d)

Australia

26.

Australia shown in green was part of which large landmass during the triassic?

a)

Pangaea

b)

Laurasia

c)

Gondwana

d)

Australia

27.

India shown in red moved north to join which continent?

a)

Asia

b)

Africa

c)

South America

d)

Australia

28.

What type of boundary is represented?

a)

Converging

b)

Transform

c)

Diverging

29.

What type of boundary is represented?

a)

Converging

b)

Transform

c)

Diverging

30.

What type of boundary is represented?

a)

Converging

b)

Transform

c)

Diverging

31.

The picture shows the San Andreas fault in California. Faults are cracks in the earth's crust that occur at what type of boundary?

a)

Converging

b)

Transform

c)

Diverging

32.

What term describes to location on the Earth's surface directly above the location of an earthquake?

a)

Focus

b)

Epicentre

33.

What term describes the location inside the Earth where the movement of the rocks occurs?

a)

Focus

b)

Epicentre

34.

The term 'tsunami' means...

a)

Huge wave

b)

Harbour wave

c)

Wall of water

d)

Waves caused by wind

35.

What causes tsunamis?

a)

Large amounts of rain

b)

Underwater earthquakes

c)

The Moon's gravity

d)

Heavy winds

36.

Select all correct answers:

The ring of fire is an area around the Pacific ocean that is characterised by ...

a)

frequent earthquakes

b)

active volcanoes

c)

ridges

d)

fault lines