Science long test

• What are tectonic plates?

  They are large pieces of Earth's lithosphere that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.
• What is the mantle composed of?

  The mantle is a semi-liquid layer of molten magma divided into upper and lower mantle.
• What is the lithosphere?

  The lithosphere is the upper mantle and the crust of the Earth.
• What is the outer core made of?

  The outer core is made of molten iron and nickle.
• What is the temperature of the outer core?

  The temperature of the outer core is 8500°F.
• Why does the inner core remain solid despite its high temperature?

  The inner core remains solid because Earth's gravity is so strong that the metals cannot melt.
• What is the temperature of the inner core?

  The temperature of the inner core can be as high as 9941°F.
• How does the Earth's surface change over time?

  The Earth's surface is changing all the time due to the movement of tectonic plates.
• What was the name of the supercontinent that existed 335 million years ago?


  The supercontinent is called Pangaea.
• What are the seven large tectonic plates?

  1. Pacific Plate
  2. Australian Plate
  3. Antarctica Plate
  4. South American Plate
  5. North American Plate
  6. Eurasian Plate
  7. African Plate
• What is the smallest tectonic plate?

  The smallest plate is the Juan de Fuca Plate.
• What happens to tectonic plates over millions of years?

  Tectonic plates move around, smashing into each other and pulling apart.
• What is the process called that describes the movement of tectonic plates?

  The process is called plate tectonics, also known as continental drift.
• How do the edges of continents provide evidence for continental drift?

  The edges of continents line up like the edges of Africa and South America.
• What type of fossils provide evidence that continents were previously connected?

  Fossils of animals that couldn't swim or fly, such as Mesosaurus, Kannemeyeria, and Lystrosaurus.
• What drives the movement of tectonic plates?

  Tremendous heat and pressure within the Earth drive slow circular movements called convection currents.
• What are the boundaries where tectonic plates meet called?

  They are known as plate margins.
• Divergent Boundary


  Where plates move apart and new crust is formed.
• Convergent Boundary


  Where plates move towards each other and collide.
• Transform Boundary


  Where plates slide past each other horizontally.
• Plate Boundary

  There are three types of plate boundaries: Divergent (plates moving apart), Convergent (plates moving together), and Transform (plates sliding past each other).
• What are the landforms created by the Divergent Boundary?

  Volcano
• What are the landforms created by the Convergent Boundary

  Collison Mountains
• What are the landforms created by the Transform Boundary

  Ridges
• What are the 3 types of convergent?

  The three types of convergent plate boundaries include oceanic-continental convergence, oceanic-oceanic convergence, and continental-continental convergence.
• What are the forces responsible in plate movements?

  The forces that drive Plate Tectonics include: Convection in the Mantle (heat driven) Ridge push (gravitational force at the spreading ridges) Slab pull (gravitational force in subduction zones)
• What is the radius of the outer core of the Earth?

  3,400 km
• Who discovered the outer core?

  Edmond Halley
• What are the three types of convergent plate boundaries?

  • Oceanic-continental convergence
  • Oceanic-oceanic convergence
  • Continental-continental convergence
• What is the Moho discontinuity?

  It is the interface between the crust and the upper mantle.
• Who recognized the Moho discontinuity?

  Andrija Mohorovičić
• What does the Gutemberg discontinuity mark?

  It marks the boundary between the lower mantle and the outer core.
• Who is the Gutenberg discontinuity named after?

  Beno Gutenberg
• What is the Lehman discontinuity?

  It is located between the liquid outer core and the solid inner core.
• Who discovered the inner core?

  Inge Lehman
• What are the forces responsible for plate movements?

  • Convection in the mantle
  • Ridge push
  • Slab pull
• What is the thickness of the Earth's crust?

  0-70 km
• What are the two types of crust?

  Continental crust and oceanic crust
• What is the composition of continental crust?

  Rich in silica and composed of granite rocks.
• What is the composition of oceanic crust?

  Rich in iron and magnesium, composed of basalt rocks.