Chapter 13 – Plate Tectonics Review Questions

  1. Explain the theory of continental drift. Who developed it, when, what was it about?
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  3. What was the evidence used to support the theory of continental drift?
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  5. What layers of the earth make up the lithosphere?
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  7. What layers of the earth make up the asthenosphere?
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  9. What layers of the earth make up the plates?
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  11. What was one of the controversies challenging the theory of continental drift? How was this challenge overruled?
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  13. What type of crust (oceanic, continental) make up the North American Plate?
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  15. What type of crust (oceanic, continental) make up the Pacific Plate?
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  17. What are plate boundaries? What is occurring there?
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  20. What are the different types of plate boundaries? Be able to describe what is occurring at each, and give one example of where this is happening.
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  22. What type (depth) of earthquakes occur at subduction boundaries? (Think about your lab.)
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  24. The volcanoes of the Andes Mountains, as well as Mount St. Helens and Mt. Rainier are volcanoes associated with what type of plate boundary?
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  26. Describe the relationship between age of the volcanic rock and the distance from the spreading center.
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  28. Why would seafloor always be younger than continents?
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  30. What is the difference in density between the continental crust and the oceanic crust: What is the significance of this?
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  32. What is the relationship between the spreading centers and the deep ocean trenches?
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  34. Ocean floor is continuously being made where?
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  36. What type of feature are the mid-ocean ridges? Can this same feature be found outside on an ocean?
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  38. What is the mechanism behind movement of the plates?