Outer Layer
Plate Tectonics
Pangea & Plate Motion
Geological Events
Earth's Crust & Mantle
100

True or False: The Earth's outer layer is made of hard, solid rock

True. 

100

Show me with your hands, how do convergent plates move?

Towards eachother

100

Which two processes could result in the formation of high mountains with well-rounded peaks?

(a) volcanic eruptions and global warming

(b) earthquakes and tidal activity

(c) collision of crustal plates and erosion

(d) production of greenhouse gases and weathering

(a) volcanic eruptions and global warming

100

What caused the formation of mountain ranges?

(a) erosion of continental coastlines by ocean waves (b) collision of lithospheric tectonic plates

(c) deposition of river sediments entering the ocean (d) uneven heating of Earth’s surface

(b) collision of lithospheric tectonic plates

100

Which Earth layer contains convection currents that are believed to be responsible for the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates?

(a) crust 

(b) outer core

(c) mantle

(d) inner core

(c) mantle

200

True or False: The plates of the outer layer move

True

200

Show me with your hands, how do divergent plates move?

Away from each other

200

Similar rock formations have been discovered in the United States and Portugal. These rock formations were formed at the same time and are made of the same types of rocks. What could explain how these rocks got so far apart?

The United States and Portugal are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.

200

Name two geologic features or events that might result from the movement of crustal plates.

Earth quakes

Mountains

Volcanoes

200

How does the thickness of Earth’s oceanic crust compare to the thickness of the continental crust?

  • It is less dense than the material of the Earth's mantle and thus "floats" on top of it. 

  • Continental crust is also less dense than oceanic crust, though it is considerably thicker

300

True or False: Earth’s outer layer is divided into sections called puzzles.

False, they are divided into sections called plates.

300

Show me with your hands, how do transform plates move?

Heading in opposite directions and passing each other 

300

Similar rock formations have been discovered in the United States and Morocco. These rock formations were formed at the same time and are made of the same types of rocks. What could explain how these rocks got so far apart?

The United States and Morocco are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.

300

What location on Earth’s surface where volcanoes are most likely to form?

Volcanoes are most likely to form at the boundaries between tectonic plates. When one plate collides with another mountains are formed. When one plate slides under another, the plate going underneath gets melted by the hot interior of the Earth.

300

A team of engineers wants to study hard, solid rock under the surface of Earth. The team is considering drilling down in South Korea (1) and in the Yellow Sea (2). Where will the team find hard, solid rock?

under 1 and 2, because Earth’s entire outer layer is made of hard, solid rock

400

Which statement best describes Earth’s outer layer underneath the surface in the image?

a Underneath the soil, Earth’s outer layer is made of water.

b Underneath both the soil and the ocean, Earth’s outer layer is made of sand and water.

c Underneath the soil, Earth’s outer layer is made of hard, solid rock. Underneath the ocean, Earth’s outer layer is made of sand.

d Underneath both the soil and the ocean, Earth’s outer layer is made of hard, solid rock.

d Underneath both the soil and the ocean, Earth’s outer layer is made of hard, solid rock.

400

What happens are divergent plate boundaries?

a.) rock rises from the mantle and hardens, adding new solid rock to the edges of both plates.

b.) one plate moves underneath the other plate and sinks into the mantle.

a.) At divergent plate boundaries, rock rises from the mantle and hardens, adding new solid rock to the edges of both plates.

400
  1. Weathering and erosion of Earth’s crust are primarily caused by

(a) gravity

(b) evaporation 

(c) volcanic activity 

(d) sedimentation

(a) gravity

400

How does the Theory of Plate Tectonics explain the location of the fossils found in South America and Africa?

(a) The continents were once joined together.

(b) The animals were able to swim from one continent to the other.

(c) Humans transported the animals from point A to point B.

(d) The animals developed independently on both continents.

(a) The continents were once joined together.

400

True or False: Earth’s plates move on top of a soft, solid layer of rock called the crust.

False, it is called the mantle

500

A team of geologists wants to study hard, solid rock under the surface of Earth. The team is considering drilling down in the North Atlantic Ocean (1) and in Sierra Leone (2). Where will the team find hard, solid rock?

a) only under 2, because Earth’s outer layer is made of hard, solid rock under continents but not under the ocean 

b) under 1 and 2, because Earth’s entire outer layer is made of hard, solid rock

c) neither under 1 nor 2, because there is water under both places 

d) neither under 1 nor 2, because there is sand and gravel under both places 

b) under 1 and 2, because Earth’s entire outer layer is made of hard, solid rock

500

What happens are convergent plate boundaries?

a.) rock rises from the mantle and hardens, adding new solid rock to the edges of both plates.

b.) one plate moves underneath the other plate and sinks into the mantle.

b.) At convergent plate boundaries, one plate moves underneath the other plate and sinks into the mantle.

500

Why are fossils of species that once lived together found in different locations on Earth now?

The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.

500

Which evidence has led scientists to conclude that there are different layers within Earth’s interior?

(a) analysis of earthquake wave data

(b) rock samples taken from Earth’s core

(c) measurement of Earth’s diameter 

(d) temperatures taken within each layer


(a) analysis of earthquake wave data

500

The relatively thin layer of rock at Earth’s surface is called the 

(a) atmosphere 

(b) lithosphere

(c) hydrosphere 

(d) hemisphere

(b) lithosphere

The layer of solid, brittle rock that makes up the Earth's surface. The lithosphere is composed of the crust and the uppermost mantle