Plate Tectonics
1. How many earthquakes occur every year around the world?
An average of 2,000 earthquakes occur every year around the world.
2. What is the Tectonics Theory? Explain.
The Tectonics Theory is the theory that the surface of the Earth is not fixed and eternal, but is in constant everchanging motion.
3. Where do the Tectonic forces originate?
The Tectonic forces originate from deep within the planet.
4. What are Earth's 3 main layers?
The Earth's 3 main layers are a central core (inner and outer), a mantle, and crust.
5. Where is the Tectonic activity concentrated?
The Tectonic activity is concentrated in the upper 700 km of the planet in the uppermost mantle and crust.
6. What is the Lithosphere? Where is it located?
The Lithosphere is the crust and the outer mantle fused together about 100 km thick. It is located
7. What is the Asthenoshpere? Why is it important to plate tectonics?
The Asthenosphere is a solid but soft layer of the upper mantle. It is important to plate tectonics because it helps them stay on top.
8. How fast do plates move (average?)
Plates move at about the same speed that fingernails grow.
9. What are the 3 types of plate boundaries?
The three types of plate boundaries are divergent (pull apart), convergent (collide) and transform (slide past one another).
10. What happens at Divergent Boundaries? Where are these mostly located?
A narrow rift opens as the crust rifts apart. Lava begins to spew from long fissures, and geysers spew hot water. Along with this, frequent earthquakes strike along the rift. They are mostly located at oceans.
11. What kind of rock is Oceanic Crust made of?
Oceanic Crust is made out of basalt, which lines the ocean floor
12. What happens at Convergent Boundaries? What is often formed? Explain.
Two plates collide into each other, and buckles one or both. Mountain ranges, trenches and volcanoes are often formed. Magma solidifies and makes a new plate.
13. What is Granite? Where is it found?
Granite is a low density light colored rock that makes up the continents. It is found near continental boundaries.
14. What happens at Transform Boundaries? What is special about Transform Boundaries?
Transform Boundaries jam and jump against to each other. No magma forms in a Transform Boundary, leaving the crust cracked and broken, but is not created and destroyed.
An average of 2,000 earthquakes occur every year around the world.
2. What is the Tectonics Theory? Explain.
The Tectonics Theory is the theory that the surface of the Earth is not fixed and eternal, but is in constant everchanging motion.
3. Where do the Tectonic forces originate?
The Tectonic forces originate from deep within the planet.
4. What are Earth's 3 main layers?
The Earth's 3 main layers are a central core (inner and outer), a mantle, and crust.
5. Where is the Tectonic activity concentrated?
The Tectonic activity is concentrated in the upper 700 km of the planet in the uppermost mantle and crust.
6. What is the Lithosphere? Where is it located?
The Lithosphere is the crust and the outer mantle fused together about 100 km thick. It is located
7. What is the Asthenoshpere? Why is it important to plate tectonics?
The Asthenosphere is a solid but soft layer of the upper mantle. It is important to plate tectonics because it helps them stay on top.
8. How fast do plates move (average?)
Plates move at about the same speed that fingernails grow.
9. What are the 3 types of plate boundaries?
The three types of plate boundaries are divergent (pull apart), convergent (collide) and transform (slide past one another).
10. What happens at Divergent Boundaries? Where are these mostly located?
A narrow rift opens as the crust rifts apart. Lava begins to spew from long fissures, and geysers spew hot water. Along with this, frequent earthquakes strike along the rift. They are mostly located at oceans.
11. What kind of rock is Oceanic Crust made of?
Oceanic Crust is made out of basalt, which lines the ocean floor
12. What happens at Convergent Boundaries? What is often formed? Explain.
Two plates collide into each other, and buckles one or both. Mountain ranges, trenches and volcanoes are often formed. Magma solidifies and makes a new plate.
13. What is Granite? Where is it found?
Granite is a low density light colored rock that makes up the continents. It is found near continental boundaries.
14. What happens at Transform Boundaries? What is special about Transform Boundaries?
Transform Boundaries jam and jump against to each other. No magma forms in a Transform Boundary, leaving the crust cracked and broken, but is not created and destroyed.
Mid-Ocean Ridges
1. Who is NOAA?
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is a leader in exploring the geologic and biologic mysteries of the deep sea.
2. What is the mid-ocean ridge system? What happens there?
The mid-ocean ridge system is a 65 kilometer long series of seafloor where new earth is created.
3. How long/wide is the mid-ocean ridge system? Where is it located?
The mid-ocean ridge system is 65,000 kilometers long 1,500 kilometers wide. They are mainly located near rift valleys.
4. What type of plate boundary forms a mid-ocean ridge system? Explain.
A divergent plate boundary forms a mid-ocean ridge system. The ocean's plates are torn apart and the surface of our planet is renewed.
5. Explain how ridges form.
Tectonic activity pulls the oceanic crust which causes cracks. Then, magma comes and seeps into the melting crust. Due to the low density, the crust forms a ridge.
6. What forms most of the ocean crust?
Basalt dikes form most of the ocean crust.
7. How does hot lava respond to cold sea water? (Pillow Basalt).
The outer skin of hot lava solidifies instantly when in cold sea water, but the hot lava's core stays molten
8, What is happening at the Juan de Fuca Ridge?
New oceanic crust is forming at the Juan de Fuca Ridge, causing it to expand.
9. What does the rate of spreading dictate?
The rate of spreading dictates the topography of the ridge. If the ridge is slowly growing, it shows a steep and irregular topography, and is narrow. If the ridge is wider, it produces slopes.
10. How hot can sea water be heated to at the mid-oceanic ridges?
Sea water can be heated up to 400 degrees Celsius at the Mid-Oceanic Ridge.
11. Explain how HYDROTHERMAL Vents are formed?
Hydrothermal vents are formed by mineral water flowing through and eventually bursting out, making the vent.
12. Why is the hot mineral water so important? What do they support?
Hot mineral water is important because it helps support some creatures living near these hydrothermal vents.
13. What is chemosynthesis? How does it differ from photosynthesis?
Chemosynthesis is when creatures convert minerals to energy. It differs form photosynthesis by what they convert. Chemosynthesis invlolves minerals into energy, whereas photosynthesis converts sunlight into energy.
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is a leader in exploring the geologic and biologic mysteries of the deep sea.
2. What is the mid-ocean ridge system? What happens there?
The mid-ocean ridge system is a 65 kilometer long series of seafloor where new earth is created.
3. How long/wide is the mid-ocean ridge system? Where is it located?
The mid-ocean ridge system is 65,000 kilometers long 1,500 kilometers wide. They are mainly located near rift valleys.
4. What type of plate boundary forms a mid-ocean ridge system? Explain.
A divergent plate boundary forms a mid-ocean ridge system. The ocean's plates are torn apart and the surface of our planet is renewed.
5. Explain how ridges form.
Tectonic activity pulls the oceanic crust which causes cracks. Then, magma comes and seeps into the melting crust. Due to the low density, the crust forms a ridge.
6. What forms most of the ocean crust?
Basalt dikes form most of the ocean crust.
7. How does hot lava respond to cold sea water? (Pillow Basalt).
The outer skin of hot lava solidifies instantly when in cold sea water, but the hot lava's core stays molten
8, What is happening at the Juan de Fuca Ridge?
New oceanic crust is forming at the Juan de Fuca Ridge, causing it to expand.
9. What does the rate of spreading dictate?
The rate of spreading dictates the topography of the ridge. If the ridge is slowly growing, it shows a steep and irregular topography, and is narrow. If the ridge is wider, it produces slopes.
10. How hot can sea water be heated to at the mid-oceanic ridges?
Sea water can be heated up to 400 degrees Celsius at the Mid-Oceanic Ridge.
11. Explain how HYDROTHERMAL Vents are formed?
Hydrothermal vents are formed by mineral water flowing through and eventually bursting out, making the vent.
12. Why is the hot mineral water so important? What do they support?
Hot mineral water is important because it helps support some creatures living near these hydrothermal vents.
13. What is chemosynthesis? How does it differ from photosynthesis?
Chemosynthesis is when creatures convert minerals to energy. It differs form photosynthesis by what they convert. Chemosynthesis invlolves minerals into energy, whereas photosynthesis converts sunlight into energy.