Name:____________________________________________________Date:_____________Pd
Study Guide: Layers of the Earth, Continental Drift, and Plate Tectonics (S6E5a., S6E5e., S6E5f., and S6E5g.)
1.List and describe
(composition) the
layers of the Earth
starting from the
outermost layer.
1.crust (oceanic -more dense/thinner) and continental (thicker)
2.mantle (most of Earth’s Mass) (lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere),
3.outer core
4. inner core
1. Crust
2. Lithosphere (Tectonic Plates)- Crust and rigid upper mantle
3. Asthenosphere (Convection Currents-caused by heat from the core)
4. Mesosphere (Lower Mantle)
5.Outer Core (Liquid Metal- iron and nickel)
6. Inner Core (Solid Metal-iron and nickel)
Scientists know about Earth’s interior from studying seismic waves generated by
earthquakes.
2. What is the inner
core’s material?
3. What happens
to the
temperature,
density, and
pressure when you
descend from the
crust to the inner
core?
4. List the layers
from the least
dense to most
dense.
5. What is the
Continental Drift
Theory and who
proposed the
theory?
6. Describe 5 key
pieces of evidence
that Wegener
discovered to
support his theory
of Continental
Drift.
Solid Iron and nickel
They increase
Crust, mantle, outer core and inner core
Theory that was proposed by Alfred Wegener that stated that the continents
were in one large landmass called Pangaea and drifted apart over time
--mesosaurus (fossils) on different continents (too small to swim in the ocean)
--tropical plant fossils found in artic regions
--coastlines of the continents fit together like puzzle pieces
--mountain ranges on different continents lineup
--coal found in artic regions
--glacial grooves found in rocks in warm climates
**The theory was rejected because Wegener could NOT explain how the continents moved*
7. What was the
name of the
supercontinent
proposed by
Wegener? What
Pangaea- “all Lands” or “all Earth”
does the name
mean?
8. What is the midocean ridge? What
type of plate
boundary
movement exists at
the mid-ocean
ridge? What type of
crust forms at the
mid-ocean ridge?
9. Describe the
process of sea-floor
spreading. Where
does the sea floor
spread?
10. Describe the
process of
subduction. What
is a deep ocean
trench?
11. What is the
plate tectonic
theory? What are
tectonic plates?
12. What is the
driving force
that moves the
tectonic/lithosp
heric plates?
Where does this
occur?
13. Where does
-Longest chain of underwater
volcanic mountains in the world
-Mid-Ocean Ridge forms at divergent plate boundary movement
-new oceanic crust forms at the Mid-Ocean Ridge (New sea floor)
Sea-floor spreading happens at the Mid-Ocean Ridge (divergent plate boundary)
Process where new oceanic crust forms, when magma is
Heated in the asthenosphere( it becomes less dense) , and rises
Creating new oceanic crust. (Older crust is pushed farther away from the ridge.)
When two plates(oceanic-oceanic or continental-oceanic) collide
(converge) together the most dense (oceanic plate) plate is
subducted (sinks) back into the asthenosphere and melts
Deep ocean trenches are huge cracks in the deep-ocean basin. They form where one oceanic
plate is pushed beneath a continental plate or another oceanic plate at the subduction zone.
The theory that states Earth’s lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that float or move
on top of the asthenosphere- (convection currents in the asthenosphere cause this to occur)
Tectonic plate-pieces of the lithosphere (crust + upper mantle) that constantly move over Earth’s
surface.
Convection currents in the Earth’s asthenosphere is the driving force that
moves the tectonic plates
Convention-heat rises from the core and creates a difference in density in the material in the
asthenosphere which causes the material to circulate.
Occurs in the asthenosphere.
Along the boundaries of tectonic plates
most tectonic
activity
(earthquakes,
volcanic
eruptions,
mountains,
volcanic
eruptions) occur?
14. Describe
what occurs at
continentaloceanic
convergent
boundary?
--the more dense oceanic crust will sink (subduct) beneath the continental crust
Landforms: volcanoes, trenches
Geological events: volcanic eruptions, earthquakes (Subduction Zones)
15. What are
volcanic
mountains, how
do they form,
and where do
they form?
16. Describe
what occurs at a
continentalcontinental
convergent
boundary?
17. What are
folded
mountains, how
do they form,
and where do
they form?
18. What
landforms could
be created at
convergent
boundary?
--rock that is melted in subduction zones form magma, which rises to the Earth’s surface and erupts
to form volcanic mountains.
Volcanic mountains can also form under sea.
These mountains form at an oceanic-continental convergent boundary.
19. Describe
what occurs at
an oceanicoceanic
convergent
boundary?
20. What is a
fault? Along
what type of
plate boundary
do most faults
form? What
type of
geological
events occur
along faults?
21. Describe
how the plates
moves at each
of the following
boundaries:
convergent,
divergent, and
transform
22. What is the
Ring of Fire?
What are Hot
Spots?
--the more dense oceanic crust will sink (subduct) beneath the other plate-deep
Ocean trenches can form.
What happens to the oceanic crust that gets subducted?
It gets melted in the Asthenosphere- What force pulls the plate down into the asthenosphere?
Gravity
--both plates will collide, buckle and thicken Landforms: folded mountains
Geological events: earthquakes
--formed when rock layers (continental crust) are squeezed together (compression) and pushed
upward and form mountains.
--they form at a convergent boundary
Folded mountain ranges are the highest mountain ranges in the world. Ex. Himalayan Mts.
-Continental -Continental convergent- folded mountains
Continental- Oceanic Convergent- volcanoes and trenches (Subduction Zones)
Oceanic-Oceanic Convergent- Ocean trenches, Volcanic Islands (Subduction Zones)
A fault is a break in the Earth’s Crust
Most faults occurs along transform boundaries
Earthquakes occur along faults
Convergent – plates come together.
Divergent – plates move apart.
Transforms – plates slip past each other horizontally
It includes the plate boundaries surrounding the Pacific Ocean where there are lots of volcanoes.
Hot spots – volcanically active places on the Earth’s surface that are far from plate boundaries.