Tectonic Plates and Continental Drift

What are tectonic plates?

• Layers of the Earth's atmosphere

• Small, flexible pieces of the Earth's outer layers.

• Large, rigid pieces of the Earth's outer layers

• Underwater mountains

Name the three types of tectonic plates.

• convergent, divergent, and transform

• subduction, spreading, and sliding

• continental, oceanic, and transform

• convergent, divergent, and transverse

What is continental drift?

• The theory that explains how the Earth's continents have collided with each other.

• The theory that explains how the Earth's continents have moved over time.

• The theory that explains how the Earth's continents have remained stationary over time.

• The theory that explains how the Earth's continents have shrunk in size over time.

Which type of plate boundary is mostly responsible for earthquakes?

• Transform

• Convergent

• Divergent

What are the three major types of plate boundaries?

• Oceanic boundaries, continental boundaries, and island boundaries.

• Divergent boundaries, convergent boundaries, and transform boundaries.

• Tectonic boundaries, fault boundaries, and rift boundaries.

• Subduction boundaries, collision boundaries, and sliding boundaries.

Which type of plate boundary is responsible for the formation of mountains?

• subduction

• convergent

• transform

• divergent

What evidence supports the theory of continental drift?

• The matching shapes of coastlines, the distribution of fossils across continents, and the alignment of mountain ranges.

• The alignment of mountain ranges is purely coincidental.

• The theory of continental drift is based on fabricated data.

• The movement of tectonic plates is a myth.

What happens when two tectonic plates collide?

• The plates separate and move apart

• Oceans are created

• Mountains are formed or earthquakes occur

• Volcanoes are formed

What are the effects of plate tectonics?

• Various effects such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, the formation of mountains and oceanic trenches, and the movement and collision of continents.

• Plate tectonics do not cause earthquakes or oceanic trenches.

• Plate tectonics have no effect on volcanic activity.

• The effects of plate tectonics are limited to the formation of mountains.

How do scientists study tectonic plates?

• Scientists study tectonic plates by digging trenches and analyzing the layers of rock.

• Scientists study tectonic plates by observing the movement of clouds in the sky.

• Scientists study tectonic plates by analyzing the composition of ocean water.

• Scientists study tectonic plates using seismology, satellite imagery, and GPS measurements.