Plate tectonics

    Cards (32)

    • What are the four main layers of the Earth?
      Inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
    • What is the diameter of the inner core?
      About 1400 km
    • What is the composition of the inner core?
      Solid and dense layer of iron and nickel
    • What is the temperature of the inner core?
      About 5500°C
    • How thick is the outer core?
      About 2100 km
    • What state of matter is the outer core?
      Semi-molten metal layer
    • How thick is the mantle?
      About 2900 km
    • What are the temperature ranges of the outer core?
      Between about 5000-5500°C
    • What is the density of the mantle compared to the outer core?
      Less dense than the outer core
    • What types of crust make up the Earth's crust?
      Continental and oceanic crust
    • How thick is the oceanic crust?
      5-10 km
    • How does the density of oceanic crust compare to continental crust?
      Heavier and denser than continental crust
    • How thick is the continental crust?
      25-90 km
    • Why is the continental crust older than the oceanic crust?
      It isn't destroyed like oceanic crust
    • What happens to oceanic crust due to plate movement?
      It is continually created and destroyed
    • What is a plate boundary?
      Where two tectonic plates meet
    • What is the distribution of earthquakes related to plate boundaries?
      Earthquakes occur at all types of plate boundaries
    • Where do most earthquakes occur?
      Along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'
    • What types of plate boundaries do most volcanoes occur at?
      Constructive and destructive plate boundaries
    • Where are the majority of active volcanoes located?
      Around the rim of the Pacific Ocean
    • What are hotspots in geology?
      Plumes of magma escaping through the crust
    • How many main types of plate boundaries are there?
      Four main types
    • What are the four main types of plate boundaries?
      • Constructive
      • Destructive
      • Conservative
      • Collision
    • What occurs at a constructive plate boundary?
      Plates are moving apart
    • Give an example of a constructive plate boundary.
      The Mid-Atlantic Ridge
    • What occurs at a destructive plate boundary?
      Plates are moving together
    • Give an example of a destructive plate boundary.
      Between the Nazca and South American plates
    • What happens at a collision boundary?
      Two continental plates move towards each other
    • What geological feature forms at a collision boundary?
      Fold mountains like the Himalayas
    • What occurs at a conservative boundary?
      Plates move past each other
    • What is the only hazard at a conservative boundary?
      Earthquakes
    • What are the differences between the four types of plate boundaries?
      • Constructive: Plates move apart, create new crust
      • Destructive: Plates move together, subduction occurs
      • Collision: Continental plates collide, form mountains
      • Conservative: Plates slide past each other, cause earthquakes
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