Earth's Changing Surface Online Practice
Complete this assessment to review what you’ve learned. It will not count toward your grade.
1 of 121 of 12 Items
Question
Which statement best explains the theory of plate tectonics?(1 point)
Responses
Earth’s core consists of rock plates that float on top of the mantle.
Earth’s core consists of rock plates that float on top of the mantle.
Earth’s crust is formed by the magma that rises in the mantle.
Earth’s crust is formed by the magma that rises in the mantle.
Earth’s crust is composed of rock plates that float on top of the mantle.
Earth’s crust is composed of rock plates that float on top of the mantle.
Earth’s mantle is made of rock plates that move across the crust.
Earth’s crust is composed of rock plates that float on top of the mantle.
The correct statement that best explains the theory of plate tectonics is: Earth’s crust is composed of rock plates that float on top of the mantle.
To answer this question, we need to understand the key concepts of plate tectonics. Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that describes how the Earth's surface is made up of rigid plates that are constantly moving and interacting with each other. These plates are composed of the Earth's crust and part of the uppermost mantle layer, and they float on a semi-fluid layer called the asthenosphere.
Based on this understanding, we can eliminate the first two options. The Earth's core does not consist of rock plates, and the crust is not formed by magma rising in the mantle, but rather it is part of the plates themselves.
The correct answer is the third option: Earth’s crust is composed of rock plates that float on top of the mantle. This aligns with the key ideas of plate tectonics, where the Earth's crust is made up of separate plates that float on top of the underlying mantle layer.