Name___________________________________ #________ Date_________________ Hour______
Study Guide: The Dynamic Earth
Part I Directions: Decide if the underlined words in each statement is T or F; correct if F.
_____ 1. When tectonic plates collide, a rift valley forms. (E3.3A)
_____ 2. Subducting oceanic lithosphere pulls the rest of the plate along with it. (E3.3B)
_____ 3. The chain of volcanoes submerged beneath the Pacific Ocean is known as the Ring of Heat. (E3.4A)
_____ 4. Most injuries and deaths due to earthquakes are caused by the movement of the ground. (E3.4C)
_____ 5. Volcanic eruptions may have a negative effect on air quality. (E3.4C)
_____ 6. In comparison to continental crust, oceanic crust is younger, thinner, and denser. (E3.2C)
_____ 7. The continents are the tectonic plates. (E3.3A)
_____ 8. Seafloor spreading occurs at mid-ocean ridges. (E3.3A)
_____ 9. A convergent boundary is always a subduction zone. (E3.3A)
_____ 10. The tectonic plates move several kilometers per year. (E3.3A)
Part II Directions: Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
11. Choose the term that is NOT a part of the Earth's composition: (E3.2A)
a. crust
b. seismic waves
c. core
d. mantle
12. When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate, the oceanic plate is subducted because: (E3.2C)
13. What causes new crust to form at mid-ocean ridges? (E3.3A)
14. A string of volcanoes usually indicates: (E3.4
15. Which two things cause the tectonic plates to move? (E3.3B)
16. Volcanoes are characterized by: (E3.4B)
17. Earthquake vibrations are detected, measured, and recorded by instruments called (E3.4B)
18. The Richter scale measures______________.(E3.4B)
Use the diagram below to answer question # 19
_____19. Each dot on the above diagram marks the origin of an earthquake. The area with the highest
concentration of earthquake origins marks : (E3.4A)
a.
b.
c.
d.
the location of developing igneous intrusion
a line of Earth’s magnetic field
the path of the subducting tectonic plate
a seam of soft rock, such as limestone
_____20. Which of the following is measured and characterized by both movement of the Earth
resulting destruction? (E3.4B)
a. volcanoes
b. hurricanes
and/or
c. mudslides
d. earthquakes
_____21. Heat from deep in the Earth’s interior is transferred to its crust by which of the following? (E2.2C)
a. conduction in the ocean
b. convection in the mantle
c. radiation from the solid core
d. evaporation at mid-ocean ridges
Use the diagram below to answer question #22
_____22. The mountain shown is composed of deformed sedimentary layers. They are located near a
tectonic plate boundary and are still increasing in elevation due to: (E3.3A)
a.
b.
c.
d.
seafloor spreading of tectonic plates
transform faulting of a tectonic plate
subduction of a tectonic plate
colliding tectonic plates
23. The Richter Scale is a logarithmic scale of 1 to 10 formerly used to express the ___________ of an
earthquake on the basis of the size of seismograph oscillations. (E3.4B)
24. The deep interior of the Earth can be mapped using: (E3.2B)
25. Scientists use the global positioning system to map the rate of tectonic plate movement in __________
per year. (E3.3C)
26. Seismic waves travel through Earth’s layers at different speeds depending on the: (E3.2B)
27. Most earthquakes happen at the edges of: (E3.4A)
28. Plate motion is caused partly by: (E2.2C)
_____29. Primary seismic waves (P-Waves): (E3.2B)
a.
b.
c.
d.
are slower than secondary waves (S-Waves)
are the result of shearing forces in rock
can travel through solids, liquids, and gases
can cause Earth’s surface to roll up and down
_____30. Which of these describes a possible climate change caused by a volcanic eruption? (E2.1C)
a.
b.
c.
d.
Temperatures rise because of the heat coming from lava.
Scorched land creates drought conditions.
Ash blocks sunlight, causing temperatures to drop.
Volcanic eruptions rarely affect climate.
_____31. What factors caused the shape and structure of the Earth? (E2.2A)
a.
b.
c.
d.
gravity and kinetic energy
gravity and thermal energy
pressure and thermal energy
energy and pressure
_____32. Which of the following statements best explains why earthquakes occur more frequently in
California than in Massachusetts? (E3.4A)
a.
b.
c.
d.
The rock found in California is igneous, but the rock found in Massachusetts is sedimentary
California is located on the boundary of two crustal plates, but Massachusetts is not.
The rock under California is soft, but the rock under Massachusetts is hard.
California is located on a continental plate, but Massachusetts is not.
_____33. Refer to the seismic waves diagram (on the worksheet you already have) to see how P and Swaves travel through the Earth. What causes the wave’s velocity and direction to bend as it travels
through the Earth? (E3.2B)
a. distance traveled
b. pressure
34.
c. density
d. time traveled
Earth’s magnetic field is generated by the flow of molten iron in the (E3.2A)
35. Which two layers of the Earth are completely solid? (E3.2A)
Use the map and the graph below to answer question # 36
36. An earthquake struck San Diego, California. Use the above map to determine the distance between the
cities of San Diego and Seattle. Then use the table to show that the approximate difference in arrival times
between the P-wave and S-wave at Seattle is: (E3.2B)
a. 1-2 minutes
b. 3-4 minutes
c. 2-3 minutes
d. 4-5 minutes
A. convection currents
B. magnetic reversal
C. magnitude
D. intensity
E. seismic waves
F. abyssal plains
_____ 37. Measured by the Richter Scale; this determines an earthquake’s strength.
_____ 38. Measured by the Modified Mercalli Scale; this determines the amount of damage caused by an
earthquake.
_____ 39. The vibrations of the ground during an earthquake.
_____ 40. When Earth’s magnetic field changes polarity between normal and reversed.
_____ 41. __________________ are large plumes of magma are heated and drive tectonic plate motion.
42. The Hawaiian Islands are located on the Pacific Plate that has a hot spot beneath it. The motion of the
Pacific Plate is best described as: (E2.2C)
43. Why is the “Big Island” of Hawaii the youngest of the Hawaiian Islands? (2 points) (E3.3C)
44. In what layer of the Earth is the “Zone of magma formation” located? (E3.2A)
Use the diagram to answer question #45
Refer to the diagram “World Seismicity 1961-1967” above. The black dots represent the location of
earthquakes around the world. Explain the reason for the patterned location of the earthquakes. (E3.4A)
Part IV Directions: Construct a response by answering all three bulleted questions in a paragraph below.
45. Plate motions result in potentially catastrophic events, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and
mass wasting. The “Dynamic Earth” unit focused on the devastating effects that earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions have on humans and society. (E3.4B, E3.4C)



Choose one catastrophic event (earthquake or volcanic eruption) and describe what Earth processes
cause it.
Explain how the catastrophic event you chose is measured or characterized.
Describe one of the negative effects of the catastrophic event you chose on humans and society.