Question 1

What is plate convergence and what types of features are produced from convergence?

Accepted Answer

Plate convergence happens when lithospheric plates come together. There are three types of convergence and are defined by the composition and density of plates that are coming together: (1) the convergence of oceanic crust toward continental crust, (2) the convergence of oceanic crust and oceanic crust and (3) continental crust towards continental crust. Because of the density differences between oceanic and continental crust, different features are produced. When oceanic crust collides with continental crust, as off the west coast of South America, the oceanic crust slides underneath the continent and the continental crust buckles forming the Peru-Chili trench and the Andes Mountains. In the north Pacific where oceanic crust converges with oceanic crust island arcs are formed. Lastly, when two plates of continental crust collide, spectacular features such as the Himalayan mountains and the Tibetan plateau are formed.

Question 2

Alfred Wegener was a polar explorer who suggested that at one time, Earth's landmasses were joined into a supercontinent called Pangaea.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

The Earth's youngest rocks are found:

Accepted Answer

A)  in the deepest part of the flat ocean bottom. 
B)  at the mid-ocean ridges. 
C)  at the cores of the continents. 
D)  in trenches. 
A)  in the deepest part of the flat ocean bottom. 
B)  at the mid-ocean ridges. 
C)  at the cores of the continents. 
D)  in trenches. B

Question 4

Density is a measure of relative heaviness and is defined as mass per unit volume.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Transform faults are never found at mid-ocean ridges.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following lists represents the main components of the Earth's crust?

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen, uranium, thorium. 
B)  oxygen, silicon, uranium. 
C)  oxygen, silicon, aluminum. 
D)  iron, aluminum, carbon. 
A)  oxygen, uranium, thorium. 
B)  oxygen, silicon, uranium. 
C)  oxygen, silicon, aluminum. 
D)  iron, aluminum, carbon.

Question 7

Roughly how fast do most lithospheric plates move?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 5 kilometers per hour 
B)  about 5 kilometers per thousand years 
C)  about 5 centimeters per hour 
D)  about 5 centimeters per year 
A)  about 5 kilometers per hour 
B)  about 5 kilometers per thousand years 
C)  about 5 centimeters per hour 
D)  about 5 centimeters per year

Question 8

The mid-ocean ridges are:

Accepted Answer

A)  subduction zones. 
B)  transform or lateral plate boundaries. 
C)  divergent plate boundaries. 
D)  convergent plate boundaries. 
A)  subduction zones. 
B)  transform or lateral plate boundaries. 
C)  divergent plate boundaries. 
D)  convergent plate boundaries.

Question 9

There are 2 types of plate divergences: divergent oceanic crust and divergent continental crust.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

How has the history of plate movement been captured in residual magnetic fields?

Accepted Answer

A compass needle points to the magnetic

Question 11

Earlier than 200 million years ago, the continents were joined into one supercontinent called:

Accepted Answer

A)  Pangaea. 
B)  Panthalssa. 
C)  Oceanus. 
D)  Tethys. 
A)  Pangaea. 
B)  Panthalssa. 
C)  Oceanus. 
D)  Tethys.

Question 12

Japan is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences many earthquakes. Almost all of the earthquakes around Japan occur:

Accepted Answer

A)  only on the east side of the island where the Pacific plate subducts. 
B)  only on the west side of the island where the Eurasian plate subducts. 
C)  near the Pacific spreading center. 
D)  Near the Mid-Atlantic ridge. 
A)  only on the east side of the island where the Pacific plate subducts. 
B)  only on the west side of the island where the Eurasian plate subducts. 
C)  near the Pacific spreading center. 
D)  Near the Mid-Atlantic ridge.

Question 13

Convection in the asthenosphere, in part, facilitates continental drift.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Subduction zones are areas where new seafloor is created.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The magnetic striping of the seafloor is considered evidence of seafloor spreading and:

Accepted Answer

A)  subduction down the rift valleys. 
B)  spreading centers in the trenches. 
C)  changes in the Earth's axis of rotation. 
D)  periodic reversals in the polarity of the Earth's magnetic field. 
A)  subduction down the rift valleys. 
B)  spreading centers in the trenches. 
C)  changes in the Earth's axis of rotation. 
D)  periodic reversals in the polarity of the Earth's magnetic field.

Question 16

About how many kilometers (miles) is it from the Earth's center to the outer edge of the outer core?

Accepted Answer

A)  12,523 kilometers (7,827 miles) 
B)  6,370 kilometers (3,980 miles) 
C)  1,264 kilometers (790 miles) 
D)  2,880 kilometers (1,800 miles) 
A)  12,523 kilometers (7,827 miles) 
B)  6,370 kilometers (3,980 miles) 
C)  1,264 kilometers (790 miles) 
D)  2,880 kilometers (1,800 miles)

Question 17

Which of these is most abundant on or in the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  mantle material 
B)  granite rock 
C)  liquid water 
D)  basalt 
A)  mantle material 
B)  granite rock 
C)  liquid water 
D)  basalt

Question 18

Geologists believe that a new ocean basin is forming:

Accepted Answer

A)  at the East African Rift Valley. 
B)  in the Red Sea. 
C)  along the divergent zone between India and Asia. 
D)  along the divergent zone between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate. 
A)  at the East African Rift Valley. 
B)  in the Red Sea. 
C)  along the divergent zone between India and Asia. 
D)  along the divergent zone between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate.

Question 19

A cross section of Earth reveals a layered structure that has different thicknesses and densities. How do geologists know this?

Accepted Answer

A)  From drilling and digging down into the various layers. 
B)  From observing the characteristics of lava and gas issuing from volcanic vents. 
C)  From observing the transit times through the Earth of waves generated by large earthquakes. 
D)  From comparisons with drill cores taken by robot spacecraft on Mars and Venus. 
A)  From drilling and digging down into the various layers. 
B)  From observing the characteristics of lava and gas issuing from volcanic vents. 
C)  From observing the transit times through the Earth of waves generated by large earthquakes. 
D)  From comparisons with drill cores taken by robot spacecraft on Mars and Venus.

Question 20

As early as the 1700s, scientists and explorers notice a remarkable coincidence of shape of the Atlantic coasts of Africa and which continent?

Accepted Answer

A)  North America 
B)  Australia 
C)  Asia 
D)  South America 
A)  North America 
B)  Australia 
C)  Asia 
D)  South America

What is plate convergence and what types of features are produced from convergence?

Alfred Wegener was a polar explorer who suggested that at one time, Earth's landmasses were joined into a supercontinent called Pangaea.

The Earth's youngest rocks are found:

Density is a measure of relative heaviness and is defined as mass per unit volume.

Transform faults are never found at mid-ocean ridges.

Which of the following lists represents the main components of the Earth's crust?

Roughly how fast do most lithospheric plates move?

The mid-ocean ridges are:

There are 2 types of plate divergences: divergent oceanic crust and divergent continental crust.

How has the history of plate movement been captured in residual magnetic fields?

Earlier than 200 million years ago, the continents were joined into one supercontinent called:

Japan is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences many earthquakes. Almost all of the earthquakes around Japan occur:

Convection in the asthenosphere, in part, facilitates continental drift.

Subduction zones are areas where new seafloor is created.

The magnetic striping of the seafloor is considered evidence of seafloor spreading and:

About how many kilometers (miles) is it from the Earth's center to the outer edge of the outer core?

Which of these is most abundant on or in the Earth?

Geologists believe that a new ocean basin is forming:

A cross section of Earth reveals a layered structure that has different thicknesses and densities. How do geologists know this?

As early as the 1700s, scientists and explorers notice a remarkable coincidence of shape of the Atlantic coasts of Africa and which continent?

The Origin of the Ocean

A History of Marine Science

Ocean Basins

Ocean Sediments

Water

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean Circulation

Waves

Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Pelagic Communities

Benthic Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

Filters

Exam 3: Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics

What is plate convergence and what types of features are produced from convergence?

Alfred Wegener was a polar explorer who suggested that at one time, Earth's landmasses were joined into a supercontinent called Pangaea.

The Earth's youngest rocks are found:

Density is a measure of relative heaviness and is defined as mass per unit volume.

Transform faults are never found at mid-ocean ridges.

Which of the following lists represents the main components of the Earth's crust?

Roughly how fast do most lithospheric plates move?

The mid-ocean ridges are:

There are 2 types of plate divergences: divergent oceanic crust and divergent continental crust.

How has the history of plate movement been captured in residual magnetic fields?

Earlier than 200 million years ago, the continents were joined into one supercontinent called:

Japan is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences many earthquakes. Almost all of the earthquakes around Japan occur:

Convection in the asthenosphere, in part, facilitates continental drift.

Subduction zones are areas where new seafloor is created.

The magnetic striping of the seafloor is considered evidence of seafloor spreading and:

About how many kilometers (miles) is it from the Earth's center to the outer edge of the outer core?

Which of these is most abundant on or in the Earth?

Geologists believe that a new ocean basin is forming:

A cross section of Earth reveals a layered structure that has different thicknesses and densities. How do geologists know this?

As early as the 1700s, scientists and explorers notice a remarkable coincidence of shape of the Atlantic coasts of Africa and which continent?

The Origin of the Ocean

A History of Marine Science

Ocean Basins

Ocean Sediments

Water

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean Circulation

Waves

Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Pelagic Communities

Benthic Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

Filters