wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Dynamic Earth - Earth´s Surface - Rocks, Weathering, Tectonics

Total questions: 130

Worksheet time: 4hrs 31mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

This German scientist first proposed continental drift theory

a)

Harry Hess

b)

Alfred Wegener

c)

Archimedes

d)

Thomas Warner

2.

These are remains of dead plants or animals preserved in rock.

a)

Glaciers

b)

Dinosaurs

c)

Bones

d)

Fossils

3.

This was the super continent, where all of the Earth’s continents were connected together

a)

Beringia

b)

Pantheon

c)

Pangaea

d)

Continentia

4.

Wegener observed scratches from glaciers in Africa and India where it is currently too hot for glaciers to form. This is considered...

a)

Fossil Evidence

b)

Rock Formation Evidence

c)

Climate Evidence

d)

Objective Evidence

5.

Wegener noticed that the Appalachian Mountains and Caledonian Mountains line up and are made of the same rock types. This was a type of ....

a)

Fossil Evidence

b)

Rock Formation Evidence

c)

Climate Evidence

d)

Objective Evidence

6.

What was the name of Alfred Wegeners Theory?

a)

Seafloor Spreading Theory

b)

Pangaea Theory

c)

Plate Tectonics Theory

d)

Continental Drift Theory

7.

How was Wegener's theory received by other scientists at the time?

a)

They thought it was great

b)

They did not accept it

8.

What does Pangaea mean?

a)

It means an all black panda bear

b)

It means all the universe

c)

It means all earth or entire earth

d)

It means all rock

9.

The Earth is made up of ___________________ which constantly move.

a)

Dirt

b)

Rock

c)

Techtonic Plates

d)

Mantle

10.

What is the correct order of the earth's layers from inside to outside?

a)

inner core, mantle, outer core, crust

b)

outer core, inner core, mantle, crust

c)

crust, mantle, outer core, inner core

d)

inner core, outer core, mantle, crust

11.

Tectonic plates float on top of the ________

a)

Crust

b)

Mantle

c)

Inner Core

d)

Outer Core

12.

Earth’s lithosphere is made up of what layer/s?

a)

Crust

b)

Mantle

c)

Crust and Mantle

d)

Crust and upper mantle

13.
Wegener’s proposal of a supercontinent was supported by:
a)
earthquake data
b)
seafloor magnetism
c)
rock, fossil, and climate data.
d)
convection currents in the mantle.
14.

Evidence of what on different continents supports Wegener's hypothesis that animals and plants that now live on different continents were once on the same continent millions of years ago?

a)

Fossils

b)

Glacial Features

c)

Rock Formations

d)

Coal Deposits

15.

Evidence from what shows that when Wegener discovered 290 million year old glacial grooves, or deep scratches in rocks made as glaciers moved across land.

a)

Rock Formations

b)

Coastlines

c)

Glacial Features

d)

Fossils

16.

Evidence of what shows that when Pangaea began to break apart, large geologic structures, such as mountain ranges, became separated as the continents drifted apart?

a)

Fossils

b)

Glacial Features

c)

Coastline

d)

Rock Formations

17.

This piece of evidence that Alfred Wegener used to prove the continents were once connected involved finding remains of once-living organisms on different continents.

a)

jigsaw evidence

b)

fossil evidence

c)

rock evidence

18.

Tectonic plates are always moving. Tectonic plate _______ are places where the edges of two or more plates interact.

a)

boundaries

b)

fossils

c)

countries

d)

rivers

19.

Even the fastest tectonic plates only move tens of ____ every year! Wow! That's a very short distance!

a)

meters

b)

miles

c)

centimeters

20.

The thin, solid, outermost layer of Earth; is either continental (landmasses) or oceanic (ocean floors)

a)

mantle

b)

crust

c)

Pangea

d)

earthquake

21.

The theory that continents were once connected but have drifted apart

a)

plate tectonics

b)

Pangea

c)

continental drift

d)

pyroclastic flows

22.

The mineralized remains of organisms, showing how long-dead organisms lived and how their bodies were structured

a)

fossils

b)

Pangea

c)

lava

d)

magma

23.

The solid layer of Earth between the crust and the core; made of dense silicates. (Convection currents happen here.)

a)

mantle

b)

crust

c)

magma

d)

Pangea

24.

The theory that the crust is divided into large pieces called tectonic plates that slowly move on top of the mantle

a)

seafloor spreading

b)

continental drift

c)

tectonic plate

d)

plate tectonics

25.

Huge piece of crust that slowly moves on the upper, ductile (able to be molded, like plastic) part of the mantle

a)

pangea

b)

continental drift

c)

tectonic plate

d)

plate tectonics

26.

The upper layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

a)

mantle

b)

crust

c)

core

d)

lithosphere

27.

Molten rock below the surface of the Earth

a)

magma

b)

mantle

c)

lava

d)

crust

28.

A shaking of the Earth’s surface due to a release of energy within the crust that generates seismic waves

a)

pyroclastic flows

b)

lithosphere

c)

seafloor spreading

d)

earthquake

29.

molten

a)

melted or liquefied

b)

frozen or solid

30.

The driving force of plate tectonics. These circular movements in Earth's mantle cause the tectonic plates on Earth's crust to move.

a)

pyroclastic flows

b)

magma

c)

convection currents

d)

tectonic plates

31.

The supercontinent that included all of Earth’s land surface about about 200-300 million years ago. It's name means 'all the Earth.'

a)

Wonderland

b)

Pangea

c)

Biglandia

d)

Wegenerland

32.

This piece of evidence that Alfred Wegener used to prove the continents were once connected involved finding remains of once-living organisms on different continents.

a)

jigsaw evidence

b)

fossil evidence

c)

rock evidence

33.

This piece of evidence that Alfred Wegener used to prove the continents were once connected involved identical rocks of the same type (and similar mountain ranges) being found on opposite sides of the ocean on different continents.

a)

jigsaw evidence

b)

fossil evidence

c)

rock evidence

34.

One reason why continents are higher than the ocean floor is because oceanic crust is _______ than continental crust.

a)

less dense

b)

denser

35.

This scientist concluded that the continents must move over time. He shared his evidence and scientists gave the process its more familiar name: continental drift.

a)

Neil deGrasse Tyson

b)

Bill Nye

c)

Albert Einstein

d)

Alfred Wegener

36.

Tectonic plates are always moving. Tectonic plate _______ are places where the edges of two or more plates interact.

a)

boundaries

b)

fossils

c)

countries

d)

rivers

37.

Even the fastest tectonic plates only move tens of ____ every year! Wow! That's a very short distance!

a)

meters

b)

miles

c)

centimeters

38.
This is an example of -
a)
convergent
b)
divergent
c)
transform
39.
This is an example of -
a)
convergent
b)
divergent
c)
transform
40.
Sea floor spreading happens at what type of boundary
a)
Divergent
b)
Convergent
c)
Transform
d)
Mountainous
41.

Indicate the evidence for continental drift theory.

a)

rock formations

b)

glacial features like grooves

c)

coal deposits in Antarctica which means that it had a warmer climate and plant life

d)

South America having evidence of a warmer climate

42.

What was Glossopteris?

a)

A cactus-like plant that can be found on antarctica

b)

An ancient plant, whose fossils have been found on 5 different continents

c)

An ancient plant, whose fossils were found in South America

d)

An ancient plant, whose fossils showed that it was a small plant

43.

What cold environment feature was evidence to support the theory that the continents used to be joined?

a)

Same rocks were found on different continents

b)

Glacial grooves were found on different continents

c)

Fossilized evidence of the same organism found on different continents

d)

Africa and South America look like puzzle pieces that fit together

44.

The youngest rocks on the ocean floor are located ____.

a)

near continents

b)

at mid-ocean ridges

c)

far from mid-ocean ridges

d)

near Asia

45.

What are mid-ocean ridges?

a)

Vast mountain ranges deep below the ocean's surface

b)

Deep underwater troughs on the seafloor

c)

The process by which new oceanic crust is continuously formed and destroyed

d)

molten rock below Earth's surface

46.

What are ocean trenches?

a)

Vast mountain ranges deep below the ocean's surface

b)

Deep underwater troughs on the seafloor

c)

The process by which new oceanic crust is continuously formed and destroyed

d)

molten rock below Earth's surface

47.

The Mariana Trench is the deepest landform on Earth

a)

True

b)

False

48.

Mid-ocean ridges are places where tectonic plates are doing what?

a)

Colliding

b)

Sliding past each other

c)

Spreading apart

d)

None of the above

49.

Order the pictures of Pangaea from oldest to present day.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
50.

Match the following

a)

Glacier grooves match up on neighboring continents

1.

Climate Clues

b)

Plant and animal evidence found on continents seperated by oceans

2.

Fossil clues

c)

Hardened magma of the same chemistry and age

3.

Rock clues

d)

Continents seem to fit together like puzzle pieces

4.

Continental shape clues

51.

Which device was used to map the seafloor?

a)

echo sounder

Sonar

b)

digital camera

c)

magnetic device

d)

string with weights

52.

What is the imaginary line that shows points on the map that have the same age?

a)

isometric

b)

an ionosphere

c)

an isochron

d)

The equator

53.

where two plates move along side each other

a)

transform

b)

divergent

c)

convergent

54.

where two plates move toward each other

a)

transform

b)

divergent

c)

convergent

55.

where two plates move away from each other

a)

transform

b)

divergent

c)

convergent

56.

The OLDEST rocks on the seafloor are located?

a)

Closest to the mid-ocean ridge

b)

Farthest from the mid-ocean ridge

57.

The YOUNGEST rocks on the seafloor are located?

a)

Closest to the mid-ocean ridge

b)

Farthest from the mid-ocean ridge

58.

Who suggested the theory of seafloor spreading?

a)

Harry Hess

b)

Alfred Wegner

c)

Mrs. Bratton

d)

Albert Einstein

59.

Hot magma (melted rock) is ______ dense than the solid crust.

a)
less
b)

more

60.

What are TWO pieces of evidence for Seafloor Spreading

a)

Youngest rocks are located closest to mid-ocean ridges

b)

Reversals of Earth's magnetic field are recorded by rocks in strips parallel to ridges.

c)

Similar animal fossils are found on continents separated by oceans.

d)

It is very hot in the United States in the summer.

61.

The image shows a diagram of the ocean floor near a mid-ocean ridge. Where would the oldest rock be found?

a)
L
b)
M
c)
N
d)
O
62.

Put the repeating steps of seafloor spreading in order.

a)

Magma MOVES to the SURFACE

b)

Magma FLOWS from the CRACKS

c)

Magma COOLS to form new SEAFLOOR

1)
2)
3)
63.

The ​ (a)   is moving away from the _​ (b)   while also moving towards the ​ (c)  

Choose from the below words
North American Plate
Eurasian Plate
Pacific Plate
64.

How do fold mountains form?

a)

When 2 mountains collide & make one mountain

b)

When a mountain erodes & becomes a fold mountain

c)

When 2 plates move towards eachother and collide

d)

When 2 plates move apart from eachother

65.

The (a)   formed as the Indian Plate converged with the Eurasian Plate - they are the longest and highest mountain range in the world and still growing.

66.

At a continental-continental convergent boundary,

a)

one continental plate is subducted below the other

b)

fault-block mountains are formed

c)

both continental plates are subducted

d)

folded mountains are formed

67.

The (a)   are also fold mountains forming when the denser Nazca Plate collides with the South American Plate which forces the denser Nazca Plate under the South American Plate.

68.

The Sierra Nevadas and the Teton Moutain Range are examples of which type of mountain?

a)

fault block mountains

b)

folded mountains

c)

dome mountains

d)

plateau

69.
____ acts on mountains to change their size, height, or surface.
a)
Slipping
b)
Erosion
c)
Shifting
d)
Sliding
70.
Mountains made of huge rocks separated from other rocks by faults are ____ mountains.
a)
folded
b)
volcanic
c)
fault-block
d)
upwarped
71.
____ is when one plate sinks beneath another plate.
a)
collide
b)
subduction
c)
isostasy
72.
Hawaiian Islands that comprise Hawaii
a)
fault-block mountains
b)
upwarped mountains
c)
folded mountains
d)
underwater volcanic mountains
73.
Sierra Nevada in California
a)
fault-block mountains
b)
volcanic mountains
c)
upwarped mountains
d)
folded mountains
74.
The image shows the Mid Atlantic Ridge. Which type of boundary occurs at this ridge where the ocean floor is spreading apart? 
a)
convergent
b)
divergent 
c)
transform fault
75.
An example of an Island Arc would be..
a)
Hawaiian Islands
b)
Aleutian Islands
c)
Himalaya Mountains
d)
Andes Mountains
76.

Which of the descriptions below is for an island arc?

a)

a curved chain of volcanic islands usually formed along converging plates where subduction takes place near a deep ocean trench.

b)

a major volcanic belt formed by the many volcanoes that rim the Pacific Ocean.

c)

Geographical regions with very high levels of volcanic activity, formed along the boundaries of Earth's plates

d)

an area where material from within the mantle rises and then melts, forming magma.

77.

A(n) _____is an area of many fractured pieces of crust along a large fault.

a)

mid-ocean ridge

b)

subduction zone

c)

fault zone

78.

The ______ is(are) an example of a transform boundary.

a)

Appalachian Mountains

b)

Himalayas

c)

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

d)

San Andeas Fault

79.

How do landslides change the Earth’s surface?

a)

by torrential rain, machinery blasting, or earthquakes that knock sediments, rocks and vegetation loose to move down a hill rapidly

b)

by bursting hot rocks to the surface and creating new land

c)

by moving rocks to a different area and creating new land

80.

What is a tsunami?

a)

when land falls from a hill or cliff

b)

a large ocean wave

c)

magma coming from underground

d)

a form or precipitation

81.

Finish the sentence to describe the relationship between impactor mass and crater size

As the impactor mass increases, crater size _______

a)

Increases

b)

Decreases

c)

stays the same

d)

is random

82.

Weathering is the process of -

a)

Moving sediment from one place to another

b)

Dropping or leaving sediment in a location

c)

Breaking down rocks into sediment

83.

An example of physical weathering is -

a)

Plant roots and leaves releasing acids

b)

Carbonic acid dissolving limestone

c)

Large temperature changes

d)

Lichens growing on rocks

84.
The natural chemical or physical processes that breaks down rock on Earth's surface.
a)
weathering
b)
erosion
c)
deposition
d)
jackhammering
85.
The process by which water, ice, wind or gravity moves weathered rock and soil from one place to another.
a)
weathering
b)
erosion
c)
deposition
d)
dumptruck
86.
This type of weathering occurs when rocks weaken then break down due to chemical changes in the composition of the rock.
a)
mechanical weathering
b)
chemical weathering
c)
erosion weathering
d)
deposition
87.
Which of these can not cause physical weathering?
a)
wind
b)
ice
c)
plants
d)
acid rain
88.
How do plants weather rocks?
a)
during photosynthesis
b)
when roots grow into cracks of rocks and expand the rock
c)
when the plant moves water from the roots to the leaves
89.
Which of the following is the most important agent of chemical weathering to form this cave?
a)
Water - It can carry acid and dissolve rock
b)
Erosion - Moves the rocks from one place to another
c)
Wind - It displaces rocks
d)
Exfoliation - New cracks give chemical reactions the chance to operate
90.

Waves dropping sand on the beach.

a)

Weathering

b)

Erosion

c)

Deposition

91.

Layers of sediment forming at the bottom of the ocean.

a)

Weathering

b)

Erosion

c)

Deposition

92.

Rocks get ​ (a)   by weathering, ​ (b)   through erosion, and ​ (c)   somewhere else through deposition.

Choose from the below words
broken down
moved
deposited or dropped
93.
Which of the following statements is not true?
a)
Water causes more erosion on slopes without plants
b)
Water flows from higher to lower ground
c)
Faster water erodes more sediment
d)
As water slows, smaller particles are deposited first
94.
The steeper the slope, the ________ the stream.
a)
Slower
b)
Broader
c)
Faster
d)
Curvier
95.
Streams with steep gradients have a(n) _____ velocity than those with gentle gradients.
a)
Greater
b)
Lesser
c)
Average
d)
None of these
96.
Which of these coastal landforms are created by deposition?
a)
Cave
b)
Stack
c)
Beach
d)
Wave cut platform
97.

Rock formations hanging from a roof are called ________.

a)

stalactites

b)

stalagmites

c)

troglodytes

d)

minerals

98.

Which type of physical weathering would be responsible for the rock formation shown in the diagram?

a)

Wind Abrasion

b)

Frost Wedging

c)

Root Wedging

d)

Exfoliation

e)

Oxidation

99.
sediment that feels like powder
a)
desert pavement
b)
dunes
c)
loess
d)
deflation 
100.
Mounds of sand left by the wind
a)
desert pavement
b)
loess
c)
dunes
d)
deflations
101.
A glacier is __________
a)
series of frozen lakes that line up parallel to one another 
b)
series of frozen seas that rest in the interior of continents 
c)
o  large body of ice that does not move across the earth's surface 
d)
large body of ice and snow that shows evidence of movement 
102.
Glaciers form when _____.
a)
less snow falls than melts 
b)
more snow falls than melts 
c)
less rain falls than freezes 
d)
more rain falls than freezes 
103.
What type of glacier forms over large, flat, land masses and is shaped like a dome?
a)
an iceburg
b)
a crevasse
c)
a continental glacier
d)
an alpine glacier
104.

_____ the process in which a glacier scrapes underlying rock. The sediments and rocks frozen in the ice at the bottom and sides of a glacier act like sandpaper. They wear away rock..

a)

Plucking

b)

Abrasion

c)

Weathering

d)

Erosion

105.

Poorly graded (unsorted) rock material deposited directly by a glacier.

a)

glacial drift

b)

stratified drift

c)

Glacial till

d)

glacier

106.

What shape is the valley created by glacial erosion?

a)

U

b)

V

c)

N

d)

A

107.

A sharp, pyramid shaped peak formed by glacial erosion

a)

Horn

b)

Arete

c)

Cirque

d)

Erratic

108.

What are jagged ridges that form on mountains called?

a)

U-shaped valleys

b)

cirques

c)

aretes

d)

horns

109.

Identify the landform in the picture created by a glacier.

a)

arete

b)

cirque

c)

kettle lake

d)

moraine

110.
Which statement is true about rocks?
a)
Magma is made of solid rock.
b)
Rocks are made of one or more minerals.
c)
Crystals are made of rocks.
d)
Minerals are made of one or more rocks.
111.

Which rock group formed from high heat and pressure?

a)

Igneous

b)

Metamorphic

c)

Sedimentary

112.

What are sedimentary rocks made from?

a)

Bits of rock and minerals

b)

Igneous rocks that have been transformed

c)

Metamorphic rocks that have been transformed

d)

Magma

113.

What word goes in the blank?


Erosion, Deposition, (a)   , Cementation

114.

Rocks can change from one type to another.

a)

True

b)

False

115.

What type of rock forms from cooled magma or lava?

a)

Metamorphic

b)

Sedimentary

c)

Igneous

116.

Where are metamorphic rocks formed?

a)

On the Earth's surface

b)

In the crust

c)

Deep underground

d)

In space

117.

What two things can change an Igneous rock into a Metamorphic rock?

a)

Erosion and weathering

b)

Compaction and cementation

c)

Heat and pressure

d)

Melting and cooling

118.

What type of rock often has large pieces of material you can see?

a)

Igneous

b)

Sedimentary

c)

Metamorphic

119.

What type of rock can look glassy/shiny or have holes?

a)

Igneous

b)

Sedimentary

c)

Metamorphic

120.

What type of rock are you most likely to find near a volcano?

a)

Igneous

b)

Metamorphic

c)

Sedimentary

121.

What type of rock often has visible wavy bands?

a)

Sedimentary

b)

Metamorphic

c)

Igneous

122.

Igneous rocks that form outside on the Earth's surface...

a)

will cool down faster and have smaller crystals

b)

will cool down more slowly and have smaller crystals

c)

will cool down faster and have larger crystals

d)

will cool down more slowly and have larger crystals

123.

Igneous rocks that form inside the earth...

a)

will cool down faster and have smaller crystals

b)

will cool down more slowly and have smaller crystals

c)

will cool down faster and have larger crystals

d)

will cool down more slowly and have larger crystals

124.

What is an extrusive igneous rock?

a)

a rock that forms outside on the Earth's surface with small or no crystals

b)

a rock that forms outside on the Earth's surface with large crystals

c)

a rock that forms inside the Earth with small or no crystals

d)

a rock that forms inside the Earth with large crystals

125.

What is an intrusive igneous rock?

a)

a rock that forms outside on the Earth's surface with small or no crystals

b)

a rock that forms outside on the Earth's surface with large crystals

c)

a rock that forms inside the Earth with small or no crystals

d)

a rock that forms inside the Earth with large crystals

126.

Sedimentary Rock --> ____________--> Sediment

a)

compaction and cemetation

b)

weathering and erosion

c)

heat and pressure

d)

melting and cooling

127.

Magma --> _____________ --> Igneous Rock

a)

Melting

b)

Cooling

c)

Metamorphism

d)

Compaction

128.
Small, solid pieces of materials from rocks or living things
a)
sediment
b)
clastic rock
c)
organic rock
d)
deposition
129.
The process that presses sediments together
a)
clastic rock
b)
cementation
c)
compaction
d)
deposition
130.
The process in which dissolved minerals crystallize and glue sediment together.
a)
compaction
b)
deposition
c)
organic rock
d)
cementation