Question 1

Which basic type of plate boundary is shown in the image below?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which basic type of plate boundary is...

Question 2

The rate of motion of a lithospheric plate with respect to a stationary location inside Earth is termed ________ plate velocity,while the motion of a plate with respect to another is termed ________ plate velocity.

Accepted Answer

Absolute plate velocity refers to the motion of a tectonic plate with respect to a stationary location within the Earth, such as the Earth's rotation axis. Relative plate velocity refers to the motion of a tectonic plate with respect to another plate. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Question 3

Consult the figure below.Hawaii is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

Hawaii is formed by hot-spot volcanism, where there is a stationary mantle plume beneath the oceanic crust, causing magma to erupt and form volcanoes. Choice B, mid-ocean-ridge volcanism, occurs along divergent plate boundaries and results in the formation of new oceanic crust. Choice C, a volcanic island arc formed by subduction, occurs along convergent plate boundaries where an oceanic plate is subducted beneath another plate. Choice D, transform margin, occurs along a conservative plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally.

Question 4

Describe the process of seafloor spreading,making sure to address why the diameter of Earth is not growing.

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

At transform plate boundaries,________.

Accepted Answer

At transform plate boundaries, earthquakes are common due to the friction and grinding of the two opposing plates. However, volcanoes are absent because there is no magma rising up or melting occurring at this type of boundary.

Question 6

The image below shows a view of a typical segmented mid-ocean ridge.Which letter below marks the location of the active transform fault?

Accepted Answer

The active transform fault is marked as B. This is because there is a clear offset in the direction of the arrows at this location, indicating that this is where the two plates are sliding past each other in opposite directions. This results in seismic activity and can lead to the formation of features such as fracture zones.

Question 7

Discuss where transform boundaries are primarily found and what their main purpose is.

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

Summed over the entire surface of Earth,the rate of spreading at divergent boundaries is ________ lithospheric consumption at subduction zones.

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

Hot spots can occur ________.

Accepted Answer

Hot spots can occur within either continental or oceanic plates.

Question 10

The mid-ocean ridges are elevated above the surrounding seafloor because ________.

Accepted Answer

Ridge rocks are hot and therefore have relatively low density, which causes them to rise above the surrounding seafloor. As the rocks cool and move away from the ridge, they become more dense and sink lower into the crust. This process is known as seafloor spreading.

Question 11

A geologist measures the amount of seafloor produced along a MOR to be 45 km.The oldest crust produced is 4.5 Ma.What is the spreading rate of the MOR in cm/yr? Show your work.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A geologist measures the amount of seafloor...

Question 12

What would happen if the rate of seafloor spreading was faster than the rate of subduction?

Accepted Answer

If the rate of seafloor spreading exceeds the rate of subduction, more oceanic crust is created than is destroyed, causing the Earth's surface area to increase, leading to a larger Earth.

Question 13

Explain why Wegener's theory of continental drift was not originally accepted by geologists of his time?

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

Plate tectonics theory is often referred to as the "unifying" theory in geology.Explain why plate tectonics is such an important theory to the study of Earth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Plate tectonics theory is often referred to...

Question 15

Which basic type of plate boundary is shown in the image below?

Accepted Answer

The image shows two plates colliding and a subduction zone which is a characteristic of a convergent plate boundary.

Quiz 2: The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Which basic type of plate boundary is shown in the image below?

The rate of motion of a lithospheric plate with respect to a stationary location inside Earth is termed plate velocity,while the motion of a plate with respect to another is termed plate velocity.

Consult the figure below.Hawaii is an example of ________.

Describe the process of seafloor spreading,making sure to address why the diameter of Earth is not growing.

At transform plate boundaries,________.

The image below shows a view of a typical segmented mid-ocean ridge.Which letter below marks the location of the active transform fault?

Discuss where transform boundaries are primarily found and what their main purpose is.

Summed over the entire surface of Earth,the rate of spreading at divergent boundaries is ________ lithospheric consumption at subduction zones.

Hot spots can occur ________.

The mid-ocean ridges are elevated above the surrounding seafloor because ________.

A geologist measures the amount of seafloor produced along a MOR to be 45 km.The oldest crust produced is 4.5 Ma.What is the spreading rate of the MOR in cm/yr? Show your work.

What would happen if the rate of seafloor spreading was faster than the rate of subduction?

Explain why Wegener's theory of continental drift was not originally accepted by geologists of his time?

Plate tectonics theory is often referred to as the "unifying" theory in geology.Explain why plate tectonics is such an important theory to the study of Earth.

Which basic type of plate boundary is shown in the image below?