Plate tectonics quick check answers
1. What are tectonic plates?
Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere (uppermost layer) that move and interact with each other.
2. What causes tectonic plates to move?
Tectonic plates move due to the convection currents in the Earth's mantle. These currents circulate heat and cause the plates to slowly move and interact.
3. What are the three types of plate boundaries?
The three types of plate boundaries are convergent boundaries (where two plates collide), divergent boundaries (where two plates move apart), and transform boundaries (where two plates slide past each other horizontally).
4. What are the main features or processes associated with each type of plate boundary?
At convergent boundaries, features such as mountains, trenches, and volcanic arcs can form. At divergent boundaries, features such as mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys are found. At transform boundaries, earthquakes and faults are common.
5. Where are the youngest rocks on Earth usually found?
The youngest rocks on Earth are usually found at mid-ocean ridges and other areas of divergent plate boundaries.
6. How can plate tectonics lead to the formation of new land or the destruction of existing land?
Plate tectonics can lead to the formation of new land through volcanic eruptions at convergent boundaries or the spreading of seafloor at divergent boundaries. Conversely, existing land can be destroyed through subduction (one plate diving below another) at convergent boundaries or through the collision and uplift of two plates.
7. How does plate tectonics contribute to the formation of earthquakes and volcanic activity?
Plate tectonics can cause earthquakes when two plates become stuck and then eventually release the built-up energy, resulting in shaking of the Earth's surface. Volcanic activity is also linked to plate tectonics, with volcanic eruptions often occurring at convergent boundaries where one plate is subducting beneath another.