Plate Boundaries
What is a plate boundary?
A plate boundary is how two plates move in relation to each other
What do we do to better see the layers of the earth?
We look at cross sections
What is a landform?
A landform is a natural feature of Earth's surface
What is a tectonic plate?
Tectonic plates are the large portions of the earth's crust that are slowly moving across the earth's surface
How do continents move?
Continents move by plate boundaries moving the tectonic plates upon which they exist.
What are the three plate boundary types?
Convergent, Divergent, and Transform are the three plate boundary types
Of Which layers of the earth are the tectonic plates part?
The tectonic plates are part of the crust and upper mantle
Which Plate boundaries form volcanic landforms
Convergent and divergent plate boundaries form volcanic landforms
Where are tectonic plates in earths layers?
They are in the crust and upper mantle.
What can we use to determine how a continent has moved?
We can use continent shape, landforms, fossils and rock layers.
How do Convergent, Divergent, and Transform boundaries move?
Convergent boundaries move towards each other. Divergent boundaries move away from each other. Transform Boundaries move side by side.
Which layer of the earth moves the tectonic plates?
The Mantle moves the tectonic plates
What can landforms tell us about a plate boundary?
Landforms can tell us the plate boundary type
What portion of a tectonic plate is older?
Portions near convergent boundaries are older.
What can happen that makes continental shape not an exact fit?
Erosion can change the shape of the continents, so they are not a perfect fit.
Which boundary types are associated with volcanic activity?
Convergent and divergent boundaries are associated with volcanic activity.
The mantle is composed of soft rock. What does it mean for the rock to be soft?
Soft rock is more plastic. It can be more easily deformed without breaking
What landforms does a convergent boundary form?
Convergent boundaries form mountains, deep sea trenches, and volcanic islands.
What portion of a tectonic plate is younger?
Portions near divergent boundaries are younger.
When reconstructing gondwanaland, What was the most important piece of evidence for positioning the continents?
The glossopteris(fern) fossil was most important for positioning the continents
Why is there no volcanic activity at our local plate boundary, San Andreas fault?
San Andreas fault is a transform boundary which neither creates nor destroys land, reducing the chance of volcanic activity.
How does the mantle move the tectonic plates?
The higher density cool rock sinks as the lower density hot rock rises producing a convection current that slowly moves the plates
Why does the Ring of Fire in the Pacific ocean have high volcanic activity?
The Ring of Fire has high volcanic activity due to the large presence of subduction zone which are a type of convergent plate boundary
How can a part of a plate be older or younger than another part?
The divergent boundaries are exposing lava creating new younger land while convergent boundaries are consuming older land, turning it into magma or mantle.
The scottish highlands in Scotland, the appalachian mountains in the eastern US and the little atlas mountains in Morocco all have very similar rock layers. What does this mean for these areas of our world?
The three areas were once part of the same mountains long ago.