8.9B Plate Tectonics Flashcard #2

Front

What causes earthquakes in California?

Back

Earthquakes in California are caused by two tectonic plates sliding past each other.

Front

What crustal feature forms when two continental tectonic plates move away from each other?

Back

A rift valley forms when two continental tectonic plates move away from each other.

Front

What geological feature is likely to form where two tectonic plates push toward each other?

Back

A mountain range is likely to form where two tectonic plates push toward each other.

Front

What type of plate boundary creates an island arc, like the islands in Japan?

Back

A convergent plate boundary creates an island arc.

Front

What evidence did Wegener use to support his Continental Drift theory?

Back

Wegener used evidence such as continents and fossils fitting together like puzzle pieces, plant and animal fossils, and mountain ranges and coal deposits lining up across continents.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other.

Front

What is a convergent boundary?

Back

A convergent boundary is where two tectonic plates push toward each other, often forming mountains or causing earthquakes.

Front

What is a divergent boundary?

Back

A divergent boundary is where two tectonic plates move away from each other, often creating rift valleys or mid-ocean ridges.

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

A transform boundary is where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally, often causing earthquakes.

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.