Download Pl Tec Study Guide

Study Guide- Plate Tectonics
1. What are the names of the plates on either side of the plate boundary which passes through the state of
California?
2. (a) Which type of plate boundary runs through the state of California?
(b) What is the name of this boundary in California?
3. Match the following geologic/geographic features with the type of plate boundary which is associated
with each.
_____ The Himalayan Mountains and Tibetan Plateau
A. Convergent
_____ The central and southern coast of California
B. Divergent
_____ The Gulf of California
C. Transform
_____ The Red Sea
_____ The Gulf of Aden
_____ The Alps
_____ The Philippine Islands and Japan
_____ Java and Sumatra
_____ The Aleutian Islands
4. What happens when two continents converge?
5. What happens at oceanic-continental convergent plate boundary?
6. What is the source of the material which is melted and later erupted at island arc volcanoes?
7. Where do island arcs form?
8. Give an example of a back-arc basin.
9. What are the two types of divergent boundaries?
10. Give an example of a long, narrow sea which has formed over a divergent boundary, as a result of
continental rifting.
11. In the plate tectonic model, what three kinds of boundaries can there be between adjacent plates?
12. At which type(s) of boundary(-ies) do we have earthquakes?
13. How do geologists locate the boundaries of the plates?
14. Explain the differences between continental drift and plate tectonics.
15. Where is new crust formed?
16. What is believed to be the mechanism for plate movement?
17. What is an orogen?
18. What is one of the most convincing arguments for the supercontinent cycle hypothesis?
19. What is proposed as the cause of the break up of the supercontinents?
20. According to the supercontinent cycle hypothesis, approximately how long is the cycle during
which supercontinents form, break up, and reform?
21. When did Pangaea begin to fragment?
22. Briefly explain why the existence of guyots indicates that the sea floor is geologically young and
that oceanic crust moves away from spreading ridges over time.
23. What is the maximum age for oceanic crust?
24. What evidence for active sea floors did the discovery of guyots provide?
25. How do certain rock types record the locations of past magnetic poles?
26. Why was the Glossopteris flora on Gondwana continents considered evidence for continental drift?
27. What are the lines of evidence which were cited for continental drift?
28. What presently accepted piece of evidence for continental drift/plate tectonics was first observed at
least as early as 1620?
29. What are four of the many things which plate tectonic theory explains or whose explanations it has
influenced?
30. A transform plate boundary may connect
A. a spreading ridge and subduction zone.
B. two spreading ridges.
C. two subduction zones.
D. A and C
E. all of the above
31. The forces operating at continent-continent convergent plate boundaries are
A. tensional.
B. extensional.
C. lateral shearing (transform).
D. compressional.
E. compressional and tensional.
32. At divergent plate boundaries, the forces operating are
A. compressional.
B. tensional.
C. lateral shearing (transform).
D. thrusting.
E. normal.
33. Studies of paleomagnetism showed that
A. the northern and southern hemispheres had many times reversed position.
B. the ocean basins were young.
C. each continent had once had its own magnetic north pole.
D. the continents remained fixed and the north magnetic pole has moved.
E. all of the above
34. Fossil evidence of the links among Gondwanan continents was compelling because
A. the species should have been found over wide regions if they were able to migrate among continents.
B. the species otherwise should have exhibited evidence of tolerance for climatic extremes.
C. the species should otherwise have shown mechanisms of widespread dispersal.
D. A and C, only
E. all of the above
35. The California coast contains a convergent boundary.