Name: ______________________________________________________________________ Date: ________ Hour: _______
Plate Tectonics Unit Test
Study Guide
Directions: Answer the questions below in complete sentences. If you are asked to fill in a chart or label a diagram, then you do not need to
respond in a complete sentence YOU MUST RE-WRITE THE SENTENCE STEM!
LAYERS OF THE EARTH (4.1)
1. What are the 3 layers of the earth based on composition?
The 3 layers of the earth based on composition are…
2. What are the 5 layers of the earth based on physical properties?
The 5 layers of the earth based on physical properties are…
3. Identify and label the layers of the Earth.
Composition Layers
Physical Layers
D
A
B
F
E
A. Crust
E. Asthenosphere
B. Mantle
F. Mesosphere
C. Core
G. Outer Core
D. Lithosphere
H. Inner Core
G
Word Bank
C
H
Lithosphere
Mantle
Mesosphere
Asthenosphere
Crust
Inner Core
Core
Outer Core
4. Describe each layer of the Earth (what is it made of, is it a solid or liquid, etc). Don’t write in complete sentences for this question.
Crust: Outer composition layer; solid; 2 groups – continental (granite-like composition) and oceanic (basalt-like composition)
Mantle: Middle composition layer; liquid; high iron and magnesium composition
Core: Inner composition layer; made of iron; solid and liquid
Lithosphere: Outer physical properties layer; solid; composed of rigid upper part of mantle and the crust
Asthenosphere: Physical properties layer found below the lithosphere; solid-ish, liquid-ish
Mesosphere: Physical properties layer found below the asthenosphere; liquid
Outer core: Physical properties layer found below the mesosphere; liquid; made of iron
Inner core: Physical properties layer found below the outer core and directly in the center of the earth; solid; made of iron
5. What is a tectonic plate?
A tectonic plate is a piece of the
lithosphere that moves around on top
of the asthenosphere.
6. How are tectonic and lithospheric plates different?
Tectonic and lithospheric plates are not different. They are 2 words that describe the same.
thing.
6. How are continental lithosphere and oceanic lithosphere different?
Continental and oceanic lithosphere are different because continental lithosphere is less dense than oceanic lithosphere. Also, continental
lithosphere is found under continents and oceanic lithosphere is found below oceans.
CONTINENTAL DRIFT (4.2)
7. Define the following words:
continental drift:
Continental drift is the theory that
continents can drift apart from one
another and have done so in the past.
Pangaea:
Pangaea is the supercontinent
proposed by Wegener in his
theory of continental drift.
sea-floor spreading:
Sea-floor spreading is the process by
which new oceanic lithosphere is created
as older materials are pulled away.
8. What is the name of the landmass to the right?
9. Explain how Pangaea and continental drift are related.
The landmass to the right is called Pangaea.
Pangaea and continental drift are related because Pangaea
is the supercontinent Wegener proposed in his theory of
continental drift.
10. Thoroughly describe the process of sea-floor spreading (the definition will not be enough – and you must include the type of boundary
it occurs at).
Sea-floor spreading occurs when two tectonic plates move apart (or at a divergent boundary). As these plates move apart, magma rises into
the ridge. This magma solidifies into new oceanic lithosphere. The youngest lithosphere is found near the mid-ocean ridge and the further
you go from the ridge, the older the lithosphere gets.
11. Label the following on the diagram below:






lithosphere
asthenosphere
new ocean floor
older ocean floor
mid-ocean ridge
magma
Older Ocean Floor
Mid-Ocean Ridge
New Ocean Floor
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
Magma
TECTONIC PLATE BOUNDARIES (4.3)
12. Complete the following chart. Complete sentences are not required for this question.
Boundary type
How do the plates
move?
What landform
occurs?
Plates collide
Mountains, Volcanoes
Plates move away from one
another
Volcanoes
Divergent
Earthquakes
Transform
Plates slide past each other
horizontally
Convergent
13. Identify and label each type of boundary as convergent, divergent, or transform.
Divergent
Transform
Convergent
14. Describe the 3 possible causes of tectonic plate movement:
Ridge push:
Ridge push is when new oceanic lithosphere
pushes two tectonic plates apart.
Slab pull:
Convection:
Slab pull is when one plate subducts,
dragging the rest of the dense plate
with it.
Convection is when hot magma rises (less
dense) and cool magma sinks (denser),
in the mantle, causing plates to move.
15. Label the 3 possible causes of tectonic plate movement on the diagram below:
B
A = Slab Pull
B = Ridge Push
C
A
C = Convection
EARTHQUAKES, VOLCANOES, AND MOUNTAIN BUILDING (4.4)
16. Describe the following terms: volcano, earthquake, mountain.
A volcano is a mountain that forms when magma rises to Earth’s surface.
An earthquake is the shaking movement of Earth’s surface.
A mountain is a landmass that rises well above Earths surface.
17. What happens between 2 tectonic plates to cause an
earthquake?
(Provide more detail than just the type of plate movement).
When an earthquake occurs, two plates slide past each other,
building up pressure that needs to be released. When it is released
an earthquake occurs.
18. What happens between 2 tectonic plates to cause a mountain
to form?
(Provide more detail than just the type of plate movement).
When a mountain is formed, two tectonic plates of equal densities
(continental-continental) collide and fold up to create mountains.
19. What happens between 2 tectonic plates at a
convergent boundary to produce a volcano?
(Provide more detail than just the type of plate movement).
When a convergent boundary volcano forms two tectonic plates
collide and the denser one subducts and melts into magma. The
magma then rises to Earth’s surface in a volcano.
20. What happens between 2 tectonic plates at a
divergent boundary to produce a volcano?
(Provide more detail than just the type of plate movement).
When a divergent boundary volcano forms, two plates move apart
and magma rises in to fill the gap, creating volcanoes.
BONUS:
Bonus 1: Label each convergent boundary to the right as
continental-continental, oceanic-continental,
or oceanic-oceanic.
Bonus 2: What is a hot spot?
Bonus 3: What percentage of volcanoes are found at convergent boundaries?
Divergent boundaries? Hot spots?
con