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Plate Tectonics
Review for Plate Tectonics Quiz
42
Science
8th Grade
03/26/2014

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Term
Convection currents
Definition
warm material rises and cold sinks creating a cycle
Term
Oceanic crust is...
Definition
thin and dense (heavier)
Term
continental crust is ...
Definition
thick and less dense (lighter)
Term
The layers of the earth include...
Definition
crust, mantle, core
Term
The inner core of the earth is...
Definition
solid
Term
the outer core of the earth is...
Definition
liquid
Term
The name of the person who described the supercontinent is...
Definition
Alfred Wegener
Term
Scientists use these to learn about earth's interior
Definition
seismic waves
Term
What is Pangaea?
Definition
The name of the supercontinent that existed millions of years ago
Term
What is a divergent plate boundary?
Definition
this is where tectonic plates are separating
Term
What is a convergent plate boundary?
Definition
This is where tectonic plates are coming together/colliding.
Term
What is a transform plate boundary?
Definition
this is where tectonic plates are sliding past each other
Term
What is the lithosphere?
Definition
the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle
Term
Convection currents in the ______ cause the tectonic plates of the ______ to move
Definition
first answer = mantle
second answer = crust
Term
What is the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
Definition
It explains what causes both earthquakes and volcanoes
Term
An earthquake is caused by ...
Definition
the sudden release of energy
Term
What is Continental Drift?
Definition
The movement of the continents due to the tectonic plates very slowly floating on the magma
Term
Most earthquakes occur near...
Definition
the edges of Earth's tectonic plates
Term
When one plate is forced under another this is called a ....
Definition
subduction zone
Term
What is the name of the type of scientist who studies earthquakes?
Definition
Siesmologist
Term
List 3 pieces of evidence to support the theory of continental drift
Definition
1. close fit of continental coastlines
2. similar fossils on different continents
3. matching of glacial grooves on different continents
Term
What is a mid ocean ridge?
Definition
a long, seismically active submarine ridge system situated in the middle of an ocean basin and marking the site of the upwelling of magma associated with seafloor spreading. An example is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Term
What is a body wave?
Definition
a transverse or longitudinal earthquake wave that travels through the interior of the earth
Term
What is a surface wave?
Definition
A seismic wave that travels across the surface of the Earth as opposed to through it. Surface waves usually have larger amplitudes and longer wavelengths than body waves, and they travel more slowly than body waves do.
Term
What is a volcano?
Definition
a mountain or hill, typically conical, having a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor, and gas are being or have been erupted from the earth's crust.
Term
What is geology?
Definition
the science that deals with the earth's physical structure and substance, its history, and the processes that act on it.
Term
What is a mid ocean trench?
Definition
Oceanic crust is formed at an oceanic ridge, while the lithosphere is subducted back into the asthenosphere at trenches. The oceanic trenches are hemispheric-scale long but narrow topographic depressions of the sea floor. They are also the deepest parts of the ocean floor.
Term
What is the mantle?
Definition
The region of the interior of the Earth between the core (on its inner surface) and the crust (on its outer)
Term
What is the Earth's core?
Definition
Earth's outer core is a liquid layer about 2,266 km (1,408 mi) thick composed of iron and nickel that lies above Earth's solid inner core and below its mantle.
Term
Describe the Earth's crust.
Definition
The crust is divided into two types: oceanic crust and continental crust. Oceanic crust, found under the ocean floor, is made of dense rocks such as basalt. It is about 7 kilometers (4 miles) thick. Continental crust, found under land masses, is made of less dense rocks such as granite. Its thickness varies between 10 and 75 kilometers (6 to 47 miles).
Term
What is lava?
Definition
the molten, fluid rock that issues from a volcano or volcanic vent
Term
What is magma?
Definition
molten material beneath or within the earth's crust, from which igneous rock is formed.
Term
What are the two main categories of seismic waves?
Definition
body waves and surface waves
Term
What is the name of the device that measures earth seismic movement
Definition
seismograph
Term
What forms when two continental tectonic plates collide?
Definition
mountains
Term
What is an epicenter?
Definition
the point on the earth's surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake
Term
What are the two sub-categories of body waves?
Definition
primary (or p) waves and secondary (or s)waves
Term
What is the Richter scale?
Definition
a numerical scale for expressing the magnitude of an earthquake on the basis of seismograph oscillations
Term
What is meant by an earthquakes magnitude?
Definition
Magnitude is based on measurement of the maximum motion recorded by a seismograph
Term
What is meant by earthquake intensity?
Definition
Intensity is the severity of damage caused by an earthquake shaking. It is assessed using a descriptive scale
Term
What does the Mercalli scale measure?
Definition
Earthquake intensity
Term
What does the Richter scale measure?
Definition
Earthquake magnitude
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