Plate Tectonics Review

Front

What is plate tectonics?

Back

Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that describes the large-scale movement of Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath.

Front

What are the three main types of plate boundaries?

Back

The three main types of plate boundaries are divergent (plates move apart), convergent (plates collide), and transform (plates slide past each other).

Front

What geological features are formed at divergent boundaries?

Back

At divergent boundaries, new oceanic crust is formed, leading to features such as mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.

Front

What is subduction?

Back

Subduction is the process where one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the mantle, often leading to volcanic activity.

Front

What is the difference between the inner core and outer core?

Back

The inner core is solid and composed mainly of iron and nickel, while the outer core is liquid and also composed of iron and nickel.

Front

How do convection currents in the mantle affect plate movement?

Back

Convection currents in the mantle create a flow of molten rock that can push tectonic plates apart or pull them together, driving plate tectonics.

Front

What is an earthquake?

Back

An earthquake is the shaking of the Earth's surface caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere, often due to tectonic plate movement.

Front

What is a volcanic island arc?

Back

A volcanic island arc is a chain of volcanic islands formed at a convergent plate boundary, where an oceanic plate subducts beneath another oceanic plate.

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

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

Front

What role do hot spots play in volcanic activity?

Back

Hot spots are areas in the mantle where heat rises, creating magma that can lead to volcanic activity, independent of tectonic plate boundaries.