Review Sheet for Plate Tectonics, Volcanoes & Earthquakes
Learning Targets.
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Describe at least three pieces of evidence that support the theory of plate tectonics.
Explain why Wegener’s continental drift theory was overlooked by scientists of his time.
Describe how seafloor spreading takes place at mid-ocean ridges.
Explain how mantle convection, ridge push and slab pull drive movement of the lithospheric
plates.
Identify the types of plate boundaries on Earth.
Infer the relationship between the type of plate boundary and the locations of features such as
ocean trenches, mountain ranges, island arcs and mid-ocean ridges.
Relate the type of plate boundary to the theory of plate tectonics and (honors only) to the
passage of geologic time.
Compare magma and lava.
Relate the type of magma formed to each type of plate boundary.
Locate volcanoes and relate types of volcanic landforms to type of plate boundary where they
are formed.
Define stress and strain as they apply to rocks.
Identify the three types of faults and relate them to plate boundaries.
Contrast the three types of earthquake waves.
Explain how seismic waves have been used to determine the structure & composition of
Earth’s interior.
Compare and contrast the three earthquake measurement scales commonly in use today.
Explain why data from three seismograph stations is needed to locate the epicenter of an
earthquake.
Explain how the release of energy relates to magnitude, p-waves and s-waves.
Describe Earth’s seismic belts and relate them to plate tectonics.
Explain precautions that can be made to protect life from geohazards such as landslides,
earthquakes, tsunamis and sinkholes.
Vocabulary
Suggestion: create flash cards on quizlet.com and study only those terms that are unfamiliar to yousome you should remember from middle school science!
Ch. 17-Plate Tectonics
Continental drift
Pangaea
Isochron
Magnetometer
Paleomagnetism
convergent
divergent
transform
subduction
rift valley
ridge push
slab pull
Ch. 18-Volcanoes
Viscosity
Caldera
Shield cone
Rhyolitic
Ch.19-Earthquakes
Epicenter
Secondary (s) waves
Stress
Seismometer
Richter scale
Tsunami
hot spot
cinder cone
basaltic
pyroclastic flow
crater
composite cone
andesitic
lahar
focus
surface waves
fault
magnitude
Mercalli scale
primary (p) waves
strain
seismogram
Moment magnitude scale
seismic gap