Plate Tectonics
What are tectonic plates?
Large pieces of Earth's lithosphere that move slowly.
What is a plate boundary?
The place where two tectonic plates meet.
What is an earthquake?
The shaking of Earth's surface caused by a sudden release of energy in the crust.
What is a volcano?
An opening in Earth's crust where magma, gases, and sometimes ash escape.
What is a fossil?
reserved evidence or remains of organisms that lived in the past.
What layer of Earth do tectonic plates belong to?
The lithosphere, which includes the crust and the rigid uppermost mantle.
What type of boundary occurs when two plates move apart?
A divergent boundary.
What is a fault?
A break in Earth's crust where rocks move.
What is magma?
Molten rock beneath Earth's surface.
What is one example of a fossil?
A preserved shell, bone, leaf imprint, or footprint.
What causes tectonic plates to move?
Heat inside Earth drives mantle movement and helps move the plates.
What type of boundary occurs when two plates move toward each other?
A convergent boundary.
What is the focus of an earthquake?
The location inside Earth where the earthquake begins.
What is lava?
Magma that reaches Earth's surface.
How do fossils help scientists?
They provide evidence about past life and environments.
What can happen when two tectonic plates collide?
Mountains may form, and earthquakes or volcanoes may occur.
What type of boundary occurs when two plates slide past each other?
A transform boundary.
What is the epicenter of an earthquake?
The point on Earth's surface directly above the focus.
Why are many volcanoes found near tectonic plate boundaries?
Plate movement can allow magma to rise, especially at subduction zones and divergent boundaries.
What are index fossils used for?
Helping determine the relative ages of rock layers and correlating rocks from different locations.
How does plate tectonics change Earth's surface over time?
It can form mountains, volcanoes, ocean trenches, and cause earthquakes.
At which type of boundary do plates slide past each other and frequently/horizontally causing earthquakes?
A transform boundary.
Why do many earthquakes occur near plate boundaries?
Plates interact and build up stress, which can be released when rocks suddenly slip along faults.
What happens at a convergent boundary when one plate sinks beneath another?
Subduction occurs, and melting can produce magma that may feed volcanoes.
How can fossils provide evidence that Earth's environment has changed over time?
Fossils show that organisms and the environments they lived in were different in the past.