Chapter 15 Study Guide: Plate Tectonics
Section 1 (pages 392-399) BELLWORK: page 420-421 # 2
1. The Earth is divided into three layers - _____________, ______________, and ____________.
2. The thinnest and outer most layer of the Earth is the ________________.
3. The _____________ is the middle layer of the Earth and contains most of its _______________.
4. The ________ is the center of the Earth and is found below the _________________.
5. Which of the following compositional layers makes up the greatest percentage of Earth’s mass?
a) continental crust b) oceanic crust c) the mantle d) the core
6. The outermost physical layer of the Earth is called the ______________________ and is divided
into pieces that are called _______________ ______________.
7. These tectonic plates moves on a plastic layer of the mantle know as the __________________.
8. The lower part of the mantle is known as the _______________________.
9. The Earth’s core is divided into two parts: ________ ________ & ________ ________
10.The liquid layer of Earth’s core is called? a)lithosphere b)mesosphere c)inner core d)outer core
11.Tectonic plates consist of the ______________ and outer most part of the ______________.
12.The lithosphere is like a giant ________ _________ and the tectonic plates are the _________.
13.Scientists measure seismic waves during an earthquake using _________________________.
Section Review: page 399 # 3 and 4
Section 2 (pages 400-403) BELLWORK: page 420-421 # 1,3,6
14. The __________________ _________________ hypothesis states that continents once
formed a single landmass but broke up and drifted to their current locations.
15. Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift is supported by evidence of similar_________ being
found on widely separated landmasses suggesting the continents were once one single
landmass. (p 400 second paragraph)
16. According to the continental drift theory, a single huge continent once existed called ________.
17. _____________ _____________ occurs as ________ rises and solidifies forming new oceanic
lithosphere, and this evidence supports the continental drift theory.
18. Where does sea-floor spreading take place? _______________ _____________(underwater
mountain chains)
19. How do mid-ocean ridges support both the idea of continental drift and the theory of plate
tectonics? a) oceanic lithosphere is destroyed at mid-ocean ridges b) new crust forms at midocean ridges c) tectonic plates collide at mid-ocean ridges d) crust at mid-ocean ridges is old
oceanic lithosphere
20. _______________ _______________ are used as evidence of _______________ spreading
because as the sea floor spreads away from a mid-ocean ridge, it carries with it a record of the
magnetic poles changing places.
21. Use the diagram to answer the question below.
Which of the following statements best explains the relative positions of the two landmasses
above? a) the landmasses slid away from each other at a transform boundary b) subduction
occurred causing the land between the two landmasses to sink c) sea-floor spreading pushed
the two landmasses apart d) an earthquake split the tectonic plates in two, separating them
Section Review: page 403 # 2
Section 3 (pages 404-407) BELLWORK: page 420-421 # 4,8,9
22. In the theory of __________ _____________, Earth’s tectonic plates meet at an area called a
________________.
23. What type of boundary is formed when plates collide? a ______________________ boundary
24. Some of the world’s folded mountains formed as a result of a) oceanic-oceanic separation at
mid-ocean ridges b)continental-continental separation at rift zones c)continental-oceanic
collision at subduction zones d) continental-continental collision at convergent boundaries
25. What type of boundary is formed when plates separate forming new sea floor? _____________
26. Sea-floor spreading occurs at which of the following types of tectonic plate boundaries?
a) transform b) convergent c)divergent d) strike-slip
27. What type of boundary is formed when plates slide past each other? ___________________
28. The process by which hot rock from deep within Earth rises and cooler rock near the surface
sinks is called ______________________. (page 406 Figure 1 #2)
29. Scientists use a ___________ ________________ _____________ to measure the
movement of tectonic plates. (page 407)
30. Name the three types of boundaries below : (no section review)
1_____________________
2_____________________
3______________________
Section 4 (pages 408-414) BELLWORK: page 420-421 # 5,7,10
31. Stress that squeezes a rock layer is known as ____________________.
32. Stress that stretches a rock layer is know as _______________, and this can lead to
mountains with sharp, jagged peaks.
33. The bending of rock layers because of stress in Earth’s crust is called ________________.
34. A ______________ is the surface along which rocks break and slide past each other.
35. Which of the following geological features is formed as a result of tension?
a) an anticline b)a syncline c) a normal fault d) reverse fault (p 410 3rd paragraph)
36. In a normal fault, where does the hanging wall move relative to the footwall?
a)upward b) downward c) horizontally d) stays the same
37. What type of fault usually occurs because of compression?
a) an anticline b)a syncline c) a normal fault d) reverse fault (p 410 4th paragraph)
38. In a reverse fault, where does the hanging wall move relative to the footwall?
a)upward b) downward c) horizontally d) stays the same
39. A ________________ __________ forms when rock breaks and moves horizontally.
Use the diagram above and page 413 to answer # 40.
40. How were these mountains formed? a) rock layers were squeezed and folded by tectonic
forces b) volcanoes formed rock layers that then cooled and subsided c) Rocks pushed past
each other at a transform boundary d) tension caused some rock blocks to drop and tilt up
41. ____________ is the raising of a rock layer to higher elevations.
42. ________________ is the sinking of a rock layer to lower elevations.
Section Review: page 415 # 3 & 11 (use page 410)
Chapter 15: Plate Tectonics ANSWER KEY
1. crust, mantle, core
2. crust
3. mantle, mass
4. core, mantle
5. C
6. lithosphere, tectonic plates
7. asthenosphere
8. mesosphere
9. outer core, inner core
10. D
11. crust, mantle
12. jigsaw puzzle, pieces
13. seismographs
14. continental drift
15. fossils
16. Pangaea
17. Sea-floor spreading, magma
18. mid-ocean ridges
19. B
20. Magnetic reversals, sea-floor
21. C
22. plate tectonics, boundary
23. convergent
24. D
25. divergent
26. C
27. transform
28. convection
29. global positioning system
30. divergent, transform, convergent
31. compression
32. tension
33. folding
34. fault
35. C
36. B
37. D
38. A
39. strike-slip fault
40. D
41. uplift
42. subsidence
Chapter 15 Answer Key
SECTION REVIEWS
p. 399
3. C
4. B
p. 403
2. B
p. 415
3. D
11. reverse fault
BELLWORK
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
B
C
A
D
C
C
D
C
D
B