Plate Tectonics
Spencer O. 1/20/15 6th period
Q1- What evidence did Alfred Wegener use to support his theory of continental drift?
It looked like the continents could drift together and fit like puzzle pieces.
Q2- Why do you think people didn't believe the continental drift theory when Wegener first explained it?
Because he didn't have enough proof for them to believe that continents were seperated.
Q3- Who were the 2 scientists that brought forth supporting evidence to Wegeners theory and what was their evidence?
It was Arthur Holmes and Harry Hess. They thought thermal convection in the earth’s mantle could cause continents to move.
Q4- What are the 3 types of plate boundaries?
1.Divergent boundaries-It is where new crust is formed. It spreads out and divides. It forms ocean ridges.
2.Convergent boundaries-It is where crust is destroyed. It forms mountains.
3.Transform boundaries-The crust doesn't get destroyed or formed. It forms earthquakes.
Q5- What types of movement can occur between plates and what features can form from this movement?
The plates can collide which forms mountains (convergent plates), plates can slide and create earthquakes (transform plates) or plates can spread out or divide which forms ocean ridges (divergent plates).
Q6- Give specific examples of a location on Earth where each type of plate boundary is present.
1. Transform boundaries are found in the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.
2. Convergent boundaries are found in the Eurasian and Indian Plates.
3. Divergent boundaries are found in the South American Plate and the Nazca Plate.
Q7- What do plate tectonics and ocean trenches have in common?
They both take place at convergent boundaries. They both collide which causes one plate to move under another plate which is known as subduction.
Q8 & 9- How old are the rocks off the East Coast of North America in relation to the rocks right along the Mid-Atlantic ridge? Why do you think this is the case?
The age of the rocks is the same, over 4.6 billion years. This is because of the formation of the Earth.
Q10- What is the convection current and how does it work?
A convection current is the internal movement of the flow of hot fluid in a circular motion caused by heating and cooling.
Q11- What are the 7 major plate boundaries?
The seven major plates are the African Plate, Antarctic Plate, Eurasian Plate, Indian Australian Plate, North American Plate, Pacific Plate and South American Plate.
Q12 & 13- What are the two bad events that can happen as a direct result of plate tectonics? How did plate tectonics cause these events?
Earthquakes and volcanoes are the result of plate tectonics. Plate tectonics are moving away from oceanic ridges where new plate material is produced and moving past each other or colliding along plate boundaries which creates the earthquakes and volcanoes at this movement.
Q14 & 15 - What are the three good things that plate tectonics provide for humans? How do plate tectonics cause these good events?
Three good things that plate tectonics provide for humans are fertile soil, ore deposits and fossil fuels. Making their plate tectonic processes.