Tectonic Quiz Review

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Tectonic Quiz Review
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Define the following
Plate Tectonics
Study of the formation and movement of the rigid
plates that form the crust of the Earth.
Convection Currents
The rising of hot material and sinking of cooler
material in the Earth.
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Define the following
Continental Drift
The theory promoted by Alfred Wegener that all
continents used to be connected as one
super-continent.
Pangaea
Super Continent
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Define the following
Laurasia
Northern land mass, would later separate into
North America and Eurasia.
Gondwanaland
Southern land mass, would later separate into
Africa, Antarctica, Australia, India and South
America.
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Define the following
Mesosaurus
An extinct, fresh-water animal, fossils were
found in south-western Africa and south-eastern
South America.
Lystrosaurus
An extinct, land animal. Fossils were found in
Africa, India, and Australia.
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Define the following
Glossopteris
An extinct seed-fern. Fossils were found in South
America, Africa, Madagascar, India, Australia,
and Antarctica.
Oceanic Plate
A tectonic plate that has an ocean on it.
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Define the following
Continental Plate
A tectonic plate that has a continent on it.
Converging Boundary
Two tectonic plates that are coming together. 1.
Subduction ? Volcanoes 2. Collision ? Mountains
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Define the following
Diverging Boundary
2 tectonic plates that are moving apart.
Sliding/Transform Boundary
2 tectonic plates that have sliding past each
other.
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1. Describe how coastlines are evidence for the
theory of continental drift.
They fit together like puzzle pieces.
2. Describe how geologic/rock features can be
evidence for the theory of continental drift.
Similar rock and mineral types are found across
the Atlantic Ocean.
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3. How does the presence of a large number of
earthquakes at plate boundaries support plate
tectonic theory?
It provides a mechanism and a cause of
earthquakes and it predicts where earthquakes are
most likely to occur.
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4. How does the age of the ocean floor support
the plate tectonic theory?
The youngest sections of ocean floor are from
where the motion seems to originate, new seafloor
created.
5. Why is it important to study?
It helps explain how the Earth has taken its
present form and helps us predict future changes.