Download Inside Earth Study Guide

Plate Tectonics Study Guide
Directions: Answer these questions on a separate piece of loose-leaf paper. Be sure to separate them by section and number them.
Section 1: Earth’s Interior (S6E5a)
1. Draw and label the layers of the earth
2.
How did geologists learn about the Earth’s interior?
3.
What causes the magnetic field around the Earth?
4.
What is the function of the Earth’s magnetic field?
5.
Describe Earth’s layers.
a. Which layer is thinnest?
b. Which layer has the greatest pressure, density and temperature?
c. Which layer makes up 70% of Earth’s mass?
6.
Compare and contrast continental and oceanic crust
7.
Compare and contrast the Lithosphere and asthenosphere.
8.
Compare and contrast the inner and outer core.
Section 2: Convection Currents and the Mantle
1. How does temperature and pressure change with depth? Why do they change?
2.
Explain how convection currents cause the Earth’s crust to move?
3.
What causes convection currents within the mantle?
4.
List and describe the three types of heat transfer.
Section 3: Drifting Continents (S6E5e,f)
1. Who is Alfred Wegener? What was his theory?
2.
What four pieces of evidence did Wegener use to support his theory?
3.
Why was Wegener’s theory rejected?
Section 4: Sea-Floor Spreading (S6E5e,f)
1. How did scientists map the bottom of the ocean?
2.
How does sea floor spreading occur? Explain how seafloor spreading causes continental drift.
3.
Where does sea-floor spreading occur?
4.
Who discovered sea floor spreading?
5.
List and describe the three pieces of evidence found to support sea-floor spreading.
6.
Describe the process of subduction.
7.
What causes oceanic features such as trenches, volcanic islands and mid-ocean ridge?
Section 5: The Theory of Plate Tectonics (S6E5e,f)
1. Plate Tectonics combines what two theories?
2.
List and describe the three types of plate boundaries.
3.
Sketch a picture of each type of plate boundary.
4. Explain how mountains form.