Plate Tectonics STAAR Review

Front

What is a plate boundary where both plates move away from each other?

Back

Divergent boundary: A type of plate boundary where two tectonic plates move apart, leading to the formation of new crust.

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What is a plate boundary where two plates slip past each other moving in opposite directions?

Back

Transform boundary: A type of plate boundary where two tectonic plates slide past one another, causing earthquakes.

Front

What is a plate boundary where two plates collide?

Back

Convergent boundary: A type of plate boundary where two tectonic plates push against each other, often forming mountains or causing subduction.

Front

What is the definition of a contour interval?

Back

Contour interval: The difference in elevation between adjacent contour lines on a topographic map.

Front

If sea level is 0 and the contour interval is 10 feet, how tall is a mountain with 6 contour lines above sea level?

Back

60 ft: The height of the mountain is calculated by multiplying the number of contour lines by the contour interval (6 x 10 ft = 60 ft).

Front

What is the purpose of a topographic map?

Back

Topographic map: A map that represents the Earth's surface in three dimensions, showing elevation, terrain, and landforms.

Front

How do divergent boundaries affect the Earth's crust?

Back

Divergent boundaries create new crust as magma rises to the surface, leading to the formation of mid-ocean ridges.

Front

What geological features are commonly formed at convergent boundaries?

Back

Mountains and trenches: Convergent boundaries can create mountain ranges and oceanic trenches due to the collision of tectonic plates.

Front

What is the significance of transform boundaries in geology?

Back

Transform boundaries are significant because they are sites of frequent earthquakes due to the friction between sliding plates.

Front

What is the relationship between tectonic plates and earthquakes?

Back

Tectonic plates: Earthquakes often occur at plate boundaries where plates interact, either colliding, separating, or sliding past each other.