It's Just a Theory
Who is responsible for the Theory of Continental Drift?
Alfred Wegener
In your own words, what is subduction?'
Daily Double
One plate slides under the other.
What is the process that causes new crust to be created on the seafloor called?
Seafloor spreading.
True or False: The Inner Core is as hot as the Sun.
True.
Which scientist discovered seafloor spreading?
Bonus 100pt: What decade did he do this in?
Harry Hess.
What is the name of the supercontinent named in the theory of continental drift?
Earthquakes are caused by what type of plate boundary?
Transform
Pillow rock (also acceptable: igneous rock)
The tectonic plates make up this layer of the Earth.
The lithosphere.
Which are more dense: oceanic or continental plates?
Daily Double
Oceanic.
Why wasn't the Theory of Continental Drift accepted by scientists?
What is a convergent plate boundary?
Two plates that come together and collide.
What earth process causes trenches to occur?
Subduction.
Hotter rock is less dense and it floats up. Cooler rock is more dense and sinks.
When two continental plates collide, they can produce this landform.
Mountains
What evidence do scientists use to prove that the continents have moved? (Hint: there are 3)
Climate, fossils, landforms.
A rift valley or mid-ocean ridge is created by this type of plate boundary.
Divergent.
What causes seafloor spreading? Explain.
Divergent boundaries separate. Magma hardens on the seafloor.
Draw a model of the layers of the Earth. Label the 6 layers.
Daily Double
1 Crust
2 Lithosphere
3 Asthenosphere
4 Mesosphere
5 Outer Core
6 Inner Core
The __________ ocean is creating new crust faster than it is destroying old crust.
The __________ ocean is destroying old crust faster than it is creating new crust.
Atlantic; Pacific
There was once a super continent called Pangea. Is there a possibility that there could be another one? Explain your thinking.
Yes. Answers will vary.
What are the 3 types of plate boundaries? Give an example of a real world landform produced by one of these boundaries.
Convergent, Divergent, Transform. Examples will vary.
On the seafloor, where would we find the newest and oldest crust? Explain why.
Answers vary.
What process causes the tectonic plates to move? Explain how this works.
Convection currents. Explanations will vary.
What evidence is used to prove that the seafloor is spreading?
Molten material (pillow rocks), magnetic stripes, drilling samples, ages of rocks