Plate Tectonics Quiz

Who proposed the idea that Earth’s mantle contained convection cells that moved radioactive heat from the core towards the crust?

• Hugo Benioff

• Arthur Holmes

• Harry Hess

• Fredrick Vine

How many major tectonic plates does Earth have?

• Seven

• Fifteen

• Five

• Ten

What is the name of the layer beneath the lithosphere which is believed to be partially molten and deformable?

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Asthenosphere

Which force is sometimes referred to as 'basal drag' and causes the slow motion of tectonic plates?

• Mantle Plumes

• Slab Pull

• Ridge Push

• Mantle Drag

Which scientist suggested the theory of mantle plumes to explain isolated volcanic 'hotspots'?

• Arthur Holmes

• Hugo Benioff

• John Tuzo Wilson

• WJ Morgan

What is the angle at which some oceanic plates descend into the mantle at the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific?

• Less than 20°

• 30-40°

• More than 70°

• 50-60°

What is the name of the layer at about 100-200 km depth in the mantle where seismic waves slow down and electrical conductivity is higher?

• High Pressure Zone

• High Velocity Zone

• Low Velocity Zone

• Low Pressure Zone

Which scientist identified mantle hotspots and transform faults, both key parts of tectonic theory?

• Dan McKenzie

• John Tuzo Wilson

• Hugo Benioff

• Arthur Holmes

What is the speed of mantle convection assumed to be, in mm per year?

• 60-70 mm

• 40-50 mm

• 20-30 mm

• 5-10 mm

Which of the following is a location of seafloor spreading and new oceanic plate formation?

• East African Rift Valley

• Mid-Atlantic Ridge

• Pacific Rim subduction zones

• Hawaii active volcanoes