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Plate Tectonics Study Guide
1.
State the theory of plate tectonics.
2. There are many pieces of evidence to support the theory. Explain how sea-floor spreading,
various types of landforms (volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains, etc.) and continental drift all
support the theory. Give specifics from what we did in class.
Sea Floor Spreading:
Landforms:
Continental Drift:
3.
Explain how convection currents move the plates apart. What 2 physical layers of the Earth
are responsible for this?
4. Explain divergent boundaries. Draw a picture and describe what is occurring at this type of
boundary.
5. Explain convergent boundaries. Draw a picture and describe what is occurring at this type
of boundary.
6.
Explain transform boundaries. Draw a picture and describe what is occurring at this type of
boundary. What event occurs frequently at this type of boundary?
7. What type of landform can form where two continental plates converge? Name one actual
place on Earth where this occurs.
8. What type of landform can form where two oceanic plates diverge? Name one actual place
on Earth where this occurs.
9. What type of landform can form where two oceanic plates converge? Name one actual
place on Earth where this occurs.
10. What type of landform can form where one oceanic plate and one continental plate
converge? Name one actual place on Earth where this occurs.
11. What type of landform can form where two continental plates diverge? Name one actual
place on Earth where this occurs.
12. Explain the process of subduction.
13. What is a hot spot? What has it formed?
14. What is the Ring of Fire and where is it located? Explain what types of boundaries exist
here and what interactions are occurring between the plates.
15. Approximately how much do plates move in one year?
16. Using the picture below. Explain why North America and Europe are getting farther apart.
17. Draw and label a model of the 5 physical layers of the Earth. Explain how they are
arranged.
18. Draw and label a model of the 3 compositional layers of the Earth. Explain how they are
arranged.
19. What are the two types of crust? Which is more dense?
20. Explain the difference between magma and lava?
21. What is the lithosphere? What is it divided into?
22. What is the asthenosphere? Explain how it relates to the theory of plate tectonics.
23. What are the two parts of the core? Which is liquid and which is solid? Why is the closest
to the center solid?
24. What is Pangaea? What evidence did you find from the Pangaea evidence packet to
suggest that it did exist? Give at least two pieces of evidence.