Plate Tectonics
Explain connection between where volcanoes and earthquakes happen on Earth, and the tectonic plates
Earthquakes and volcanoes often occur along plate boundaries
Define 'glacier'
Accumulation of snow and ice and debris (can move over land)
identify the three categories of rocks
Sedimentary
Igneous
Metamorphic
Define 'magma' and 'lava'
Magma is molten material that exists and cools within the Earth
Lava is molten material that is exposed and cools on the Earth’s surface, in the ocean or in the atmosphere
Define a 'volcano'
A volcano is an opening in the Earth’s crust through which lava (molten rock) and ash are ejected.
Identify and explain 3 pieces of evidence to support the theory of continental drift
Same dinosaur/plant species found on different continents, coasts of continents seem to fit like a puzzle
Compare 'geologic' and 'observable' time
Processes that happen over geologic time take place very slowly (millions to billions of years) and observable take place over shorter periods of time(seconds to decades)
What is the difference between 'weathering' and 'erosion'?
Weathering is the breaking down of the rock, erosion is the transport of the pieces
What is the difference between an earthquake foreshock and after shock? How do they compare in magnitude to the main earthquake?
Foreshock is before, aftershock is after. Both are smaller in magnitude than the main earthquake
Identify two ways a tool like ArcGIS helps geographers
Interprets data, helps present information
Draw a sketch of the layers of the Earth
Inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
Water enters cracks in rocks and freezes. When it freezes, it expands, causing the rock to crack and break apart. This is especially common in glacial environments where temperatures fluctuate around freezing.
Explain one visual characteristic of each type of rock
Sedimentary - looks like it's made up of other rocks, stones, sand, fossils, shells
Igneous - often dark in colour
Metamorphic - often has lines
Volcanoes can be classified into 3 types...explain each
Active - erupts frequently
Dormant - hasn't erupted in the past 10,000 years but could again
Extinct - hasn't erupted in the past 10,000 years and isn't expected to erupt again
Landform - A natural, physical feature on the Earth’s surface (river, mountain etc.)
Landscape - A landscape is the visible features of an area of land made up of its landforms
Explain 'convectional currents' and how they affect the plates - sketch if helpful
Lower magma heats up and begins to rise, cooler magma at the top falls creating currents. These currents move the plates.
Explain the 3 different kinds of weathering and give an example of each
Mechanical (Physical) Weathering: Breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition. Examples include freeze-thaw cycles and exfoliation, or rocks bumping into each other.
Chemical Weathering: Decomposition of rocks due to chemical reactions, often involving water, acids, or gases like carbon dioxide.
Biological Weathering: Weathering caused by living organisms, such as tree roots growing into cracks in rocks or the production of acids by lichens.
Explain how one type of rock can 'change' to another type (what processes are happening)
-Igneous or metamorphic can be broken down through weathering and erosion into sediment, and through compaction and cementation become sedimentary.
-Metamorphic can melt into magma and then cool into igneous
-Sedimentary and igneous can go under heat and pressure to become metamorphic
Draw and label at least 4 parts of a volcano
Magma chamber, crater, lava flow, vents
Explain 2 impacts of volcanoes - one must be a short term impact and one a long term impact
Social, political, environmental, economic
Property damage, loss of life, ash causing atmospheric changes...
Sketch/explain the three types of boundaries and how they move
Divergent - moving away from each other
Convergent - moving towards each other
Transform - moving past each other
Explain two ways glaciers can change a landscape
1 - Abrasion weathering could lead to rocks with 'scars'
2 - Valleys go from V to U shapes as glaciers break down valley walls
3 - Large pieces of rock broken off heights can end up in valleys below
Sketch the rock cycle (start with 'magma' and 'sediment')
See image in 'Rock Cycle' lesson
Fault line - fracture along plate movement
Epicentre - point above focus on surface of Earth (centre of energy)
Focus/Hypocentre - point below ground where rupture starts
Seismic wave - wave generated by the earthquake energy
Explain how 2 landforms commonly found in Hong Kong may have been created
Volcanoes erupting creating islands
Weathering and erosion causing cliffs
Wave action changing beaches