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 evidence supports Wegener's Continental Drift theory?

Back

Evidence includes continents and fossils fitting together like puzzle pieces, plant and animal fossils, and mountain ranges and coal deposits lining up across continents.

Front

What geological feature forms when two tectonic plates push toward each other?

Back

A mountain range forms when two tectonic plates push toward each other.

Front

What type of plate boundary creates an island arc like Japan?

Back

A convergent plate boundary creates an island arc.

Front

What crustal feature results from two continental tectonic plates moving away from each other?

Back

A rift valley results from two continental tectonic plates moving away from each other.

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 the theory of plate tectonics?

Back

The theory of plate tectonics explains how the Earth's plates move and interact, leading to geological phenomena like earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

A transform boundary is where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally.

Front

What is a divergent boundary?

Back

A divergent boundary is where two tectonic plates move away from each other, often creating new crust.

Front

What is a convergent boundary?

Back

A convergent boundary is where two tectonic plates push toward each other, often resulting in mountain formation or subduction.