Name: ____________________________________________ Period: _____________
Ch. 9 Plate Tectonics: Study Guide
Vocabulary
8.4 Earth’s Layered Structure: crust, p. 233; mantle, p. 234; lithosphere, p. 234; asthenosphere, p. 235; outer
core, p. 235; inner core, p. 235;
9.1 Plate Tectonics: continental drift, p. 248; Pangaea, p. 248, plate tectonics, p. 254; divergent boundary, p. 255; convergent boundary, p. 255; transform fault boundary, p. 255, ridge, p. 258; seafloor spreading, p. 259; subduction zone, p. 261; trench, p. 261, paleomagnetism, p. 265, hot spot, p. 268
Reviewing Content
Choose the letter that best answers the question or completes the statement.
1. What is the weaker, hotter zone beneath the lithosphere that allows for motion of Earth’s rigid outer shell?
Asthenosphere
2. Where do most of Earth’s earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building occur?
At plate boundaries
3. Alfred Wegener is best known for what hypothesis? List facts to support his theory.
His hypothesis of continental drift, which is supported by: same rocks, same fossils, and same plants were found on different continents. Also, some continents looked as if they fit together like puzzle pieces.
4. Complex mountain systems such as the Himalayas are the result of:
Two continental plates converging; “continental-continental convergence
5. What is the type of plate boundary where two plates move together, causing one of the slabs of lithosphere to descend into the mantle beneath an overriding plate?
Ocean and continental crust with a convergent plate boundary.
6. What was one main objection to Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift?
Mechanism of continental drift: He could not prove the continents were moving.
7. Which one of the following was NOT used as support of Wegener’s continental drift hypothesis?
Paleomagnetism
8. At what type of plate boundary do plates move apart, resulting in the upwelling of material from the mantle to create new seafloor?
A divergent plate boundary
Use the diagram below to answer Questions
9. What feature is labeled B?
a. a continental volcanic arc
b. a trench
c. continental lithosphere
d. an ocean ridge
10. The process occurring at the location labeled D is
a. oceanic lithosphere being created.
b. continental lithosphere being created.
c. a continental-continental collision occurring.
d. oceanic lithosphere being subducted.
Understanding Concepts
11. What are the three types of plate boundaries?
Convergent, Divergent, and Transform
12. Briefly explain the theory of plate tectonics.
Earth’s crust is broken into plates that move
13. What type of plate boundary is shown to the right? What types of lithosphere are involved?
Divergent, Two oceanic plates.
14. At what location is most lithosphere created? At what location is most lithosphere destroyed?
Divergent boundary is most lithosphere is created, Convergent boundary that causes a subduction zone is where most is destroyed.
15. What feature produces volcanoes that do not occur at plate boundaries?
Hot spot
16. At what types of boundaries do subduction zones form?
Convergent boundary, oceanic and continental plates or oceanic and oceanic plates
Critical Thinking
17. Drawing Conclusions In the Atlantic Ocean basin, where would the oldest oceanic lithosphere be found?
Closer to the continental crust or shore.
18. Summarizing Describe the evidence that supported the hypothesis of continental drift.
Continents fit like puzzle pieces
Same rocks, rock formations, fossils found on different continents
Climate data, glacier streak marks found in Africa and Australia
19. Applying Concepts Some people predict that California will sink into the ocean. Does this idea fit with the theory of plate tectonics? Explain.
No, California is on continental crust and that it is lighter than oceanic crust.
Analyze Data
Use the figure below to answer questions 20 – 22
20. What layer is labeled A in the diagram? What type of rock makes up this layer?
Continental crust – granite rock
21. In the diagram which letter would represent the following:
i. Ocean Crust: ___B_____
ii. Continental crust: ___A______
iii. Mantle: ____E_____
iv. Outer Core: ____F_____
v. Inner Core: ____G____
vi. Lithosphere: ___C_____
vii. Asthenosphere: ___D_____
22. Describe the composition of Earth’s inner and outer core.
Inner core = Solid Iron and nickel (due to pressure)
Outer core = Liquid Iron and nickel
Ch. 1 Intro to Earth Science Study Guide
1.1 What Is Earth Science?
Earth science, p. 2; geology, p. 2; oceanography,
p. 3; meteorology, p. 3; astronomy, p. 3
1.2 A View of Earth
hydrosphere, p. 7 atmosphere, p. 7; geosphere, p. 7;
biosphere, p. 7; core, p. 8; mantle, p. 8; crust, p. 8
1.3 Representing Earth’s Surface
latitude, p. 11; longitude, p. 11; topographic map,
p. 14; contour line, p. 14; contour interval, p. 14
1.4 Earth System Science
system, p. 18
1.5 What Is Scientific Inquiry?
hypothesis, p. 23; theory, p. 2
Map Skills
What is the contour interval of this map?
50 ft
How far is it in miles from point B to point E?
2 miles
What is the elevation of Sugar Loaf Mountain?
11300 feet
What is the purpose of contour lines? Be able to determine the contour interval.
Contour lines show elevation/changes in elevation. Closer lines represent a steep area, lines farther apart represent a gentle slope.
Use the map to answer questions below
1. What is the latitude and longitude for point A on the map?
30˚N, 60˚E
2. Locate the state of Florida on the map.
What is the approximate location of its southernmost point?
25˚N, 82˚W
3. Which lines run east and west?
Latitude
4. Compare and Contrast point B to point F.
Same longitude 30˚W different latitude
5. Explain the difference between lines of latitude and lines of longitude.
Lines of latitude run north and south; measure in degrees the distance from the equator.
Lines of longitude run east and west; measure in degrees the distance east or west of the prime meridian.