Will+and+Greg+-+Plate+tectonics

=Plate Tectonics= By: Will Gotschewski & Greg Heffernan The theory was formulated in the 1960s and 1970s as new information was obtained about the ocean floor, Earth's magnetism, volcanoes and earthquakes, the flow of heat from Earth's core, and the worldwide distribution of plant and animal fossils. The theory was called Plate Tectonics.

The theory states that Earth's outer layer, the lithosphere, is broken into 7 large, rigid pieces called plates: the African, North American, South American, Eurasian, Australian, Antarctic, and Pacific plates. Several minor plates also exist, including the Arabian, Nazca, and Philippines plates.

The plates are all moving in different directions and at different speeds (from 2 cm to 10 cm per year--about the speed at which your fingernails grow) in relationship to each other. The plates are moving around and sometimes crash together, pull apart, or sideswipe eachother. The place where the two plates meet is called a plate boundary. Boundaries have different names depending on how the two plates are moving in relationship to each other. The names of the boundaries are:
 * Crashing = Convergent Boundaries,
 * Pulling apart = Divergent Boundaries,
 * Sideswiping = Transform Boundaries

If you are still confused about Plate Tectonics we have a Video for you.

media type="youtube" key="GYVS_Yh6dTk"

(Distributed and Copyrighted by [|http://www.oswego.edu/~gabel/qpt.html)] Plate Tectonics Quiz (Answers after question #10) Q1. A deep oceanic trench is found
 * We have a quiz for you to take if you would like to test your knowledge!**

A. at mid-ocean ridges B. at subduction zones C. at transform boundaries D. all of the above

Q2. Which best defines the lithosphere?

A. the rigid, rocky, outermost layer of earth B. a rocky layer within the mantle C. a rocky layer in the mantle capable of flowing D. the outer, liquid portion of the earth's core

Q3. Volcanic activity is associated with

A. all convergent boundaries B. all transform boundaries C. divergent boundaries D. all types of plate boundaries

Q4. Which of the following is at a convergent boundary where 2 plates carrying continental lithosphere are colliding?

A. the Appalachain mountains B. the Himalaya mountains C. the Andes mountains D. the Rocky mountains

Q5. Going from earth's surface to the interior, what trends are found?

A. density and temperature increase B. density and temperature decrease C. density increases and temperature decreases D. temperature increases and density decreases

Q6. The islands of Japan lie at a

A. convergent boundary where oceanic lithosphere is being subducted B. convergent boundary where there is no subduction C. divergent boundary D. transform boundary

Q7. The most distinctive property of the asthenosphere is

A. its high density B. its high temperature C. that it is in the liquid state D. its ability to flow rather easily

Q8. The earth's core is made primarily of

A. iron-magnesium silicate minerals B. sulfur and nickel C. iron D. carbon

Q9. A divergent boundary could be recognized by

A. a high mountain belt B. a volcanic island arc C. a rift valley D. all of the above

Q10. The earth's mantle is made primarily of

A. iron-magnesium silicate minerals B. feldspar and quartz C. iron D. carbon

**Answers to Quiz on Plate Tectonics**
A1. A deep oceanic trench is found

A. at mid-ocean ridges B. at subduction zones C. at transform boundaries D. all of the above

A2. Which best defines the lithosphere?

A. the rigid, rocky, outermost layer of earth B. a rocky layer within the mantle C. a rocky layer in the mantle capable of flowing D. the outer, liquid portion of the earth's core

The best answer is A.

A3. Volcanic activity is associated with

A. all convergent boundaries B. all transform boundaries C. divergent boundaries D. all types of plate boundaries

The best answer is C.

A4. Which of the following is at a convergent boundary where 2 plates carrying continental lithosphere are colliding?

A. the Appalachain mountains B. the Himalaya mountains C. the Andes mountains D. the Rocky mountains

The best answer is B.

A5. Going from earth's surface to the interior, what trends are found?

A. density and temperature increase B. density and temperature decrease C. density increases and temperature decreases D. temperature increases and density decreases

The best answer is A

A6. The islands of Japan lie at a

A. convergent boundary where oceanic lithosphere is being subducted B. convergent boundary where there is no subduction C. divergent boundary D. transform boundary

The best answer is A

A7. The most distinctive property of the asthenosphere is

A. its high density B. its high temperature C. that it is in the liquid state D. its ability to flow rather easily

The best answer is D

A8. The earth's core is made primarily of

A. iron-magnesium silicate minerals B. sulfur and nickel C. iron D. carbon

The best answer is C

A9. A divergent boundary could be recognized by

A. a high mountain belt B. a volcanic island arc C. a rift valley D. all of the above

The best answer is C

A10. The earth's mantle is made primarily of

A. iron-magnesium silicate minerals B. feldspar and quartz C. iron D. carbon

The best answer is A