Geology- Plate Tectonics (Study Guide)
This week, you will create flashcards for the listed key vocabulary and answer the following Key Concept
questions on a separate sheet of paper.
Big Ideas
Section 1.1 Earth’s Layers
1. Earth’s four layers – inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
2. Lithosphere / Asthenosphere
3. Tectonic Plates
Section 1.2 Continents Change Position Over Time
1. continental drift – Alfred Wegner
- Pangaea
- evidence
2. Convection, Convection Currents, Convection Cells
3. Theory of Plate Tectonics
Section 1.3 Tectonics Plates
1. Boundaries- divergent, convergent, transform
2. Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Sea-Floor Spreading & Rift Valley
3. Hot Spots
Section 1.4 Plate Movements
1. continental-continental Collision
2. oceanic-oceanic Subduction
3. oceanic-continental Subduction
4. Transform Boundaries
Key Vocabulary
 Inner Core
 Outer Core
 Mantle
 Crust
 Lithosphere
 Asthenosphere
 Tectonic Plates
 Continental Drift
 Pangaea
 Convection
 Convection
Currents
 Theory of Plate
Tectonics
 Rift Valley
 Hot Spot
 Subduction
Key Concepts
1. Draw a diagram to show how convection currents affect the movement of tectonic plates. Use arrows
to show direction. Describe how convection currents relate to plate tectonics.
2. Contrast/compare: 1) oceanic crust and continental crust 2) lithosphere and asthenosphere 3) outer
core and inner core.
3. Describe Alfred Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift. What evidence did he use to prove his
hypothesis?
4. Describe Earth’s crust and mantle. Be sure to discuss each layer’s thickness and density. Use the
following terms: continental crust, oceanic crust, lithosphere, and asthenosphere.
5. Explain how density determines Earth’s layers.
6. How does the theory of plate tectonics help geologists predict future geologic events such as volcanoes
or earthquakes?
7. What kinds of evidence led to the development of the theory of plate tectonics?
8. What happens when an oceanic plate converges with a continental plate? Use these terms, trench,
subduction, and mountains. You may want to draw a picture.