NS 1300 Emergence of Modern Science
Chapter #17
Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonic Theory
Continental Drift
Pangea
Biogeography
Magnetic Reversals
Earth’s Interior
Inner Core (solid)
Outer Core (liquid)
Mantle
Moho
Athenosphere (plastic)
Lithosphere (crust)
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Crust – Mantle Boundary
Crustal Plates
Types of Plate Boundaries
Divergent Plate
Boundaries
Convergent Plate
Boundaries
Transform Plate
Boundaries
Divergent Plate Boundaries
Sea-Floor Spreading
Age of Ocean Floor
Magnetic Anomalies
Convergent Plate Boundaries
Subduction
Volcanic Arcs
Orogeny
Transform Boundaries
San Andreas Fault
Hot Spots
Oceanic Hot Spots
Island Chains
Continental Hot Spots
Describing Plate Motion
Rotation Pole
Angular Momentum
Pangea
Geologic Maps
Quiz
1. T or F, the earth’s mantle is made of solid rock.
2. T or F, the mid-ocean ridge is a convergent boundary.
3. T or F, the Marianis trench is a divergent boundary.
4. T or F, the San Andreas fault is a transform boundary.
5. T or F, the Hawaiian Islands are the result of hot spot volcanism.
Test Questions
The earth is made of many layers: the solid inner core, liquid outer core, plastic mantle, and solid crust.
The earth’s crust is a thin solid layer of rock floating on the plastic mantle below it. The crust is broken up
into many plates. Plates can have ocean crust, continental crust, or combinations of both.
Hot spots in the mantle form island chains as ocean crust moves above them.
The theory of plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology. Evidence of plate tectonics includes
magnetic reversals, the shape of the continents, and patterns of biogeography, volcanic activity, and hot
spot island chains.
Ocean crust is denser than continental crust, so it sinks deeper in the mantle.
Where plates move apart as new crust forms is called a spreading center or rift zone. This can occur in
the oceans or on land.
When plates with ocean crust run into plates with continental crust they are subducted.
When two plates with continental crust collide, mountains form through orogeny.
When plates with a combination of ocean and continental crust collide they slide against each other
along transform faults.