Tectonic Plates and Landforms

Which of the following helps to explain why tectonic plates move?

• Plates move because of the gravitational force of the moon pulling on Earth's surface.

• Plates moves because the asthenosphere is slowly moving.

• Plates move because landforms cause them to move in different directions.

• Plates move because they are slowly expanding and growing larger.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A tectonic plate is defined as

• large, slow moving pieces of Earth's lithosphere.

• large, slow moving pieces of Earth's asthenosphere.

• large, slow moving pieces of Earth's mesosphere.

• large, slow moving pieces of Earth's outer core.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The diagram shows rock that is being deformed by one type of stress. What type of stress is shown in the diagram?

• faulting

• tension

• shear stress

• compression

___________ is caused by stress and is the bending, tilting, and breaking or rock.

• deformation

• faulting

• abnormality

• tension cracks

A __________________ forms when two tectonic plates move away from each other.

• divergent boundary

• transform boundary

• convergent boundary

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What type of stress is normally associated with transform boundaries?

• tension

• shear stress

• compression

• vertical stress

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

The _____________ is the outermost physical layer of the Earth and is made up of all of the crust and the top part of the mantle. It is rigid and solid.

• lithosphere

• asthenosphere

• mesophere

• atmosphere

The ______________ is the physical layer below the lithosphere. It is a solid physical layer but it is weak and flows very smoothly.

• lithosphere

• asthenosphere

• mesosphere

• atmosphere

Islands are often formed at the boundaries of tectonic plates. These plates are large portions of lithosphere that move slowly over the more fluid, underlying material in the region below the crust.

What is the term for the region indicated by an X in the diagram?

• asthenosphere

• hydrosphere

• inner core

• outer core

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

How do rock samples collected from the sea floor provide evidence of tectonic plate movement?

• Older rocks are found near the deep-ocean trenches.

• Older rocks are near the center of mid-ocean ridges.

• Younger rocks are near the deep-ocean trenches.

• Younger rocks are mixed with older rocks at mid-ocean ridges.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3