Plate Tectonics
Cameron E. 1/20/15 6th period
What evidence did Alfred Wegener use to support his theory of continental drift? Q1
"Alfred Wegener brought together several lines of evidence to support his theory of continental drift. One is quite simple -- that the continents look like they could "fit" together, much like puzzle pieces that have drifted apart."
Why do you think people didn't believe the continental drift theory when Wegener first explained it? Q2
Most people didn't know how continents moved, or might not have known if the continents moved at all. Wegener also didn't support his theory either.
Who were the two scientists that brought fourth supporting evidenc to Wegener's theory and what was their evidence? Q3
Arthur Holmes and Harry Hess gave supporting evidence on Wegener's theory. The evidence they discovered showed that thermal convection in the Earth's mantle could cause the continents to move. They suggested that the continents were "carried" by larger pieces of the Earth's crust called tectonic plates.
What are three types of plate boundaries? Q4
• Divergent boundaries: Where new crust is generated when plates seperate and pull away from each other.
• Convergent boundaries: Where crust is destroyed by plates coliding together or one plate goes under the other.
• Transform boundaries: Where crust is not destroyed or created when plates slide together horizontally.
What types of movement can occur between plates and what features can form from this movement? Q5
Volcanoes from from divergent plates and from convergent plates in the subduction plate zone. Earthquakes form from transform plates by sliding. Mountains from from convergent plates.
Give a specific example of a location on Earth where each type of plate boundary is present. Q6
Divergent plate boundary: Great Rift Valley in Africa
Convergent plate boundary: Andes Mountains in South America
Transform plate boundary: San Andreas Fault in California
What do plate tectonics and ocean trenches have in common? Q7
Both plate tectonics and ocean trench act the same at the convergent plate boundary causing subduction.
How old are rocks off the East coast of North America in relation to the rocks right along the mid-Atlantic Ridge? Q8...Why do you think this is the case? Q9
The rocks along the East coast of North America are 4.6 billion years old because the when the Earth formed, the rocks formed at the same time.
What is a convection current and how does it work? Q10
A convection current is the transfer of heat within the mantle. Hot and cold magma moves in a circular pattern continuously transferring the heat through this layer of the Earth.
What are the 7 major plate boundaries? Q11
North American Plate, South American Plate, Pacific Plate, African Plate, Arctic Plate, Indo-Australian Plate, Eurasian Plate
What are 2 bad events that can happen as a direct result of plate tectonics? Q12...How did plate tectonics cause these events? Q13
Two bad events that can happen as a direct result of plate tectonics are volcanoes and earthquakes. Volcanoes are caused by divergent plates opening up the crust and magma comes out. Earthquakes are caused by transform plates sliding together.
What are 3 good things that plate tectonics provide for humans? Q14...How do plate tectonics cause these good events? Q15
Plate tectonics provide good growing soil for plant to thrive. This is done by eroding the Earth's crust and soil rich in minerals comes to the surface. Fossil fuels, like coal, are important to humans to provide energy and warmth. Plate tectonics help to uncover fossil fuels that are buried deep within the Earth's crust. As plates move, collide and separate, minerals and elements are pushed closer to the surface allowing humans to extract them for their use.