Marine Science: Introduction to Plate Tectonics
1: How many earthquakes occur every year around the world? 2,000 2: What is the Tectonics Theory? Explain. The theory is that the Earth's surface is not in place but in constant, ever changing motion. 3: Where do the Tectonic forces originate? They originate from deep inside the planet. 4: What are Earth’s 3 main layers? The central core, the mantel and the crust 5: Where is Tectonic activity concentrated? Tectonic activity takes place in the uppermost part of the mantel and the crust 6: What is the Lithosphere? Where is it located? The outer mantel and the crust make the lithosphere. 7: What is the Asthenosphere? Why is it important to plate tectonics? The asthenosphere is a soft layer of the upper mantel. The plates float on top of the asthenosphere. |
8: How fast do plates move (average?)
Plates move extremely slowly- around the speed that fingernails grow 9: What are the 3 types of plate boundaries? Divergent, convergent and transform. 10: What happens at Divergent Boundaries? Where are these mostly located? Divergent boundaries spread apart and oceanic crust is formed in between them. 11: What kind of rock is Oceanic Crust made of? Oceanic crust forms when magma reaches the surface and hardens, turning into basalt. 12: What happens at Convergent Boundaries? What is often formed? Explain. At convergent boundaries plates collide and one plate is forced into the mantle. Continental crust or granite forms at convergent boundaries creating land. 13: What is Granite? Where is it found? Granite is a low density rock that makes up the continents. 14: What happens at Transform Boundaries? What is special about transform boundaries? Transform boundaries are plates that slide along each other creating fault valleys or undersea canyons. |