Tectonic Plates
What are tectonic plates and how do they fit together?
Tectonic plates are large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle and float on the mantle.
What is an earthquake?
An earthquake is the shaking of the ground caused by the sudden movement of tectonic plates.
Which graph is used to show a change in data over time?
A line graph
What is the X-Axis?
The horizontal line on a graph
What is the largest tectonic plate on Earth?
The Pacific Plate
Name one geological feature that forms at convergent boundaries?
Mountains or volcanoes, such as the Himalayas.
What is the focus of the earthquake?
The focus is the point underground where the earthquake starts.
Which type of graph or diagram is useful for showing the relative proportions of a certain data?
(Not looking for exact data)
Pie chart
What is the Y-Axis?
The vertical line on a graph
What country experiences the most earthquakes annually?
Japan
How fast do tectonic plates move?
About as fast as fingernails grow, which is very slowly
What is the epicenter of the earthquake?
The epicenter is the point directly above the focus on the Earth's surface.
What is an example of categoric data?
How do scientists measure seismic activity?
Scientists use seismographs to measure and record seismic activity.
What natural phenomenon can occur as a result of underwater earthquakes?
Tsunamis
Describe the relationship between tectonic plates and earthquakes
Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates suddenly move and release energy, causing the ground to shake.
What scale is used to measure the strength of an earthquake?
The Richter scale.
What is an example of continuous data?
Height, temperature, and time
What does each increase in the Richter scale represent?
Each increase in the Richter scale means the earthquake is 10 times stronger.
Which plate boundary is known for creating mid-ocean ridges?
Divergent boundaries
Name the three tectonic plate boundaries and describe how they move
Divergent (plates move apart), Convergent (plates collide together), and Transform (plates slide past each other).
What damage can occur from earthquakes over 6.0 on the Richter scale?
Earthquakes over 6.0 can cause serious damage to buildings and infrastructure
Give me the main difference between Qualitative Date and Quantitative Data
Quantitative - Data that is described in numbers
Qualitative - Data that is described in words
What does a seismograph tell you about an earthquake?
(I am looking for two answers)
Intensity and Duration
How many tectonic plates are there in total?
There are seven major tectonic plates and many smaller ones.