Tectonic Plates Checkpoint!

What is the order of the Earth's layers, starting from the Earth's surface?

• Crust, Outer Core, Inner Core, Mantle

• Crust, Mantle, Inner Core, Outer Core

• Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core

• Crust, Inner Core, Mantel, Outer Core

Answer explanation

The Earth's crust is its outermost layer, composed mainly of solid rock such as basalt and granite. There are two distinct types of crust: oceanic and continental. Oceanic crust is thinner, denser, and primarily made up of basalt, while continental crust is thicker, less dense, and mostly composed of granite.

Beneath the crust lies the mantle, extending up to 2,900 km in thickness. It consists of hot, dense, solid rock rich in iron and magnesium. Together with the upper part of the mantle, the crust forms the lithosphere, which is divided into various plates, both large and small.

At the Earth's core, two parts are distinguished: the liquid outer core and the solid inner core. The outer core consists of molten nickel, iron, and rock, with temperatures reaching as high as 5,000°C.

Source: https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/education/our-planet-earth/Pages/The-Earth-structure.aspx

Beneath the Earth's surface, convection current flows in the ______?

Answer explanation

Imagine the convection currents you observe when boiling water on a stove!

Similarly, the mantle materials undergo heating by the core. Due to uneven heat distribution, warmer, less dense mantle material rises and spreads out, while the cooler, denser material sinks. As the warm mantle material moves away from the heat source, it cools, becomes denser, and descends. At the same time, the cooler, denser material near the core is heated, and rises. The cycle continues. This ongoing movement establishes a convection current within the mantle.

Tectonic plates move because of the convection current!

Source: https://laney-lee.com/convection-currents-plate-tectonics/

Draw arrows to indicate the direction in which tectonic plates move at divergent plate boundaries

Answer explanation

In divergent plate boundaries, tectonic plates move apart from each other.

Continental-continental plate divergent results in the formation of rift valleys. For example, the divergence of the Nubian boundary and the Somalian boundary of the African plate resulted in the formation of the East African Rift Valley.

Oceanic-oceanic plate divergent results in the formation of mid-oceanic ridges. For example, the divergence of the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate resulted in the formation mid-Atlantic ridge.

Source: http://mrrudgegeography.weebly.com/constructive-margins.html

Draw arrows to indicate the direction in which tectonic plates move at convergent plate boundaries

Answer explanation

At convergent plate boundaries, tectonic plates move towards each other.

Continental-continental plate convergence results in the formation of fold mountains. For example, the convergence of the Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate resulted in the formation of the Rocky Mountains.

Oceanic-oceanic plate convergence results in the formation of the oceanic trenches. For example, the convergence of the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Plate resulted in the formation of the Mariana Trench.

Oceanic-continental plate convergence results in the formation of fold mountains and oceanic trenches. For example, the convergence of the Australian Plate and the Eurasian Plate resulted in the formation of the Sunda Trench and the Barisan Mount

Source: https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/natural-sciences/geology-and-paleontology/earth-dynamics/convergent-boundaries/

Draw arrows to indicate the direction in which tectonic plates move at transform plate boundaries

Answer explanation

At transform plate boundaries, tectonic plates slide past each other.

Earthquakes often occur at transform plate boundaries. In this lesson, we will explore the mechanisms behind earthquake formation in greater detail!

Source: https://quizlet.com/explanations/questions/sketch-or-describe-how-two-plates-move-in-relation-to-each-other-along-a-transform-plate-boundary-d34a1af9-1e58915b-cbc6-4f72-86d6-4eea1bf522c0