Download Earth Systems and Plate Tectonics Study Guide Name 6th Grade

Earth Systems and Plate Tectonics Study Guide
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6th Grade PSI
Pangaea
1. Who is Alfred Wegener?
2. Define continental drift:
3. Define plate tectonics:
4. What is the outermost layer of the Earth called?
5. What was Pangaea?
6. What role do fossils play in proving that Pangaea once existed?
7. What role do mountains play in proving that Pangaea once existed?
8. Was Pangaea the only supercontinent ever?
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6th Grade PSI
Plate Tectonics & Natural Disasters
Energy Flow
9. What are two sources of the Earth’s energy?
a.
b.
10. Give three ways in which solar energy helps us on Earth:
a.
b.
c.
11. Where does the heat inside of the Earth come from?
12. Define convection:
13. Rewrite the sentence and fill in the blanks – Warm air _____ and cool air
______.
14. Why does the warm material in the mantle rise? What causes this material to
heat up?
15. Why does the cool material in the mantle sink? What causes this material to cool
down?
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6th Grade PSI
Plate Tectonics & Natural Disasters
Types of Plate Interactions
16. Where are the plates of the Earth located? (What is this section of the crust
called?)
17. What happens at the following boundaries?
a. Convergent boundary –
b. Divergent boundary –
c. Transform boundary -
18. Define subduction. At what type of plate boundary would this happen?
19. The boundary between India and Asia is what type of plate boundary? How do
you know this?
20. How is a mountain formed?
21. Define seafloor spreading:
22. A fault line will appear at what type of boundary?
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6th Grade PSI
Plate Tectonics & Natural Disasters
Natural Disasters
23. Define earthquake –
24. Define epicenter –
25. What scale is used to measure earthquakes? What is the range of this scale
(lowest to highest reading)?
26. Earthquakes form at what kind of boundary?
27. What is the fault line in California called?
28. Why are some earthquakes more powerful than others?
29. Can we predict when and where an earthquake will occur? Explain why or why
not.
30. Define tsunami:
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6th Grade PSI
Plate Tectonics & Natural Disasters
31. Tsunamis are a result of what other natural disaster?
32. How can people guard against tsunamis?
33. Define volcano:
34. Volcanoes can form at what two types of plate boundaries?
35. Define the following:
a. Active Volcano –
b. Extinct Volcano –
c. Dormant Volcano –
36. Where is the Ring of Fire located? What is important about this area?
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6th Grade PSI
Plate Tectonics & Natural Disasters