Effects of Plate Tectonics Quiz

Which set of arrows BEST represents the forces associated with transform boundaries?

Answer explanation

Transform slides!

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The diagram to the left shows the North American Plate moving to the west and the Eurasian Plate moving to the east.

Based on the direction both plates are moving, which of these crustal features is most likely to be seen at the boundary of the two tectonic plates?

• Convergent Boundary

• Mid-ocean ridge

• Divergent boundary

• Deep ocean trench

Answer explanation

This is a divergent boundary, but the feature I would expect to see is a mid-ocean ridge.

Features are the physical evidence that tells us what kind of boundary it is.

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Which geologic process can cause the formation of very tall mountain ranges such as the Himalayas?

• Two continental plates converging

• An earthquake in a subduction zone

• A tectonic plate moving over a hotspot

• Movement along a transform fault boundary

Answer explanation

Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust. Since both plates are continental, neither is going to go under the other one. Since no plate goes under, both go up!

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Choose all that apply.

The Nazca Plate is an oceanic plate. The western edge of the South American Plate contains continental crust. Based on the direction both plates are moving, what would you expect to see along the west coast of South America?

• Volcanic mountains

• A deep ocean trench

• A rift valley

• Folded Mountains

• A mid-ocean ridge

Answer explanation

Both plates are moving toward one another, so this is a convergent boundary.

Since one plate is oceanic and one is continental, the oceanic plate will go under the continental one, forming a trench.

As the oceanic plate goes under, it begins to melt, creating magma that erupts out of volcanoes on the continent.

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Folded mountains are associated with which type of plate boundary?

• Convergent

• Divergent

• Subduction Zone

• Transform

Answer explanation

The mountains get squeezed up at a continental-continental convergent boundary.

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Evidence that supports the plate tectonic theory includes all of the following EXCEPT:

• New crust is being formed along mid-ocean ridges.

• Scientists can see and feel the tectonic plates moving.

• Earthquakes occur most frequently along plate boundaries.

• The continents appear to fit together like the pieces of a puzzle.

Answer explanation

Plates move too slowly for us to see or feel. All of the rest were pieces of evidence that led us to the Theory of Plate Tectonics.

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Sea floor spreading suggests which of the following?

• The sea floor moves away from trenches.

• The sea floor moves away from the continents.

• The sea floor moves away from the mid-ocean ridges.

• The sea floor is getting deeper and deeper.

Answer explanation

Seafloor spreading makes oceanic crust on both sides of a mid-ocean ridge.

Trenches have oceanic crust coming into them, not out.

The sea floor moves both toward and away from the continents, depending on where on earth you are.

The isn't any evidence that the sea floor is getting deeper.

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Which of the following is NOT associated with a convergent boundary?

• Mid-ocean ridges

• Deep ocean trenches

• Folded mountains

• Volcanoes

Answer explanation

We see folded mountains with continental-continental convergent boundaries.

Deep ocean trenches happen with ocean-ocean and ocean-continent convergent boundaries.

Volcanoes also happen at ocean-ocean and ocean-continent convergent boundaries.

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Which of the following features are you most likely to find at a convergent boundary where two oceanic tectonic plates meet?

• Mid-ocean Ridges

• Folded Mountains

• Rift Valley

• Trenches

Answer explanation

Mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys happen at divergent boundaries, not convergent ones.

Folded mountains only happen at continent-continent convergent boundaries.

Trenches happen at ocean-ocean convergent boundaries.

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Which of the following is NOT associated with a divergent boundary?

• Rift Valley

• Deep ocean trenches

• Seafloor Spreading

• Mid-ocean ridges

Answer explanation

Seafloor spreading is the process that happens at divergent boundaries in the ocean (middle and bottom pictures)

Mid-ocean ridges (middle and bottom pictures) are the underwater raised areas caused by magma coming up and pushing the plates apart.

A rift valley is when divergent boundaries are starting out on land (top picture).

Deep ocean trenches only happen at ocean-ocean or ocean-continental convergent boundaries.

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