The Unstable Earth
(topic from the ‘Physical’ Paper)
Key Idea
The Earth’s crust is unstable,
especially at plate margins
Unique landforms are formed
at plate margins
Details
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There are different types of plates
There are different types of plate margins
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The formation of fold mountains, ocean
trenches, composite volcanoes and shield
volcanoes
The features of fold mountains, ocean
trenches, composite volcanoes and shield
volcanoes
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People use and adapt to living
in these landforms
Volcanoes are caused by
tectonic activities. They can
have positive and negative
effects. Responses to them
can change.
A supervolcanic eruption
would have global
consequences
Earthquakes occur at
constructive, destructive plate
margins
The effects of earthquakes
and responses to them differ
due to contrasts in levels of
wealth.
Tsunamis are a specific
secondary effect and
can have devastating effects
in coastal areas.
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A case study of one range of fold mountains
 This will include a selection of economic
activities and how the conditions affect the
way people live
 Characteristics of different types of volcanoes
 A case study of a volcanic eruption: to include
its cause, primary and secondary effects and
the responses to it
 Monitoring and predicting volcanic eruptions
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The characteristics of a possible supervolcano
eruption and its effects
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Location and cause of earthquakes
Characteristics of earthquakes including
epicentre, focus and shock waves
Measuring earthquakes using Richter and
Mercalli scales
2 case studies of earthquakes; one from a
wealthy area and one in a less wealthy place
Their causes, primary and secondary effects,
short and long term responses
The need to protect, predict and prepare
A case study of a tsunami: its causes effects
and responses
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