20 flashcards · Shared on 19 August 2026 by AtomAI Library
Flip each card to check yourself.
What is plate tectonics?
The theory that Earth's lithosphere is divided into moving plates
What is plate tectonics?
The theory that Earth's lithosphere is divided into moving plates
Which layer is divided into tectonic plates?
Lithosphere
What is the main source of energy driving tectonic plate movement?
Heat from Earth's interior
What happens at a divergent, or constructive, plate boundary?
Two plates move apart and new crust forms
Which landform is commonly created where continental plates move apart?
A rift valley
At an oceanic-continental convergent boundary, why does the oceanic plate usually subduct?
It is denser than the continental plate
Which features commonly form where an oceanic plate subducts beneath a continental plate?
A trench and a chain of volcanoes
What is a common result when two continental plates converge?
Large fold mountains are formed
What mainly occurs at a transform, or conservative, plate boundary?
Plates slide past each other
What is the focus of an earthquake?
The point inside Earth where the earthquake begins
What is the epicentre of an earthquake?
The surface point directly above the focus
Why do many earthquakes occur at plate boundaries?
Friction can lock plates until accumulated stress is suddenly released
What are seismic waves?
Vibrations that carry energy away from an earthquake's focus
Which statement correctly distinguishes earthquake magnitude from intensity?
Magnitude measures released energy, while intensity describes observed shaking and effects
How can an undersea earthquake generate a tsunami?
Sudden movement of the seabed displaces a large volume of water
What is magma called after it reaches Earth's surface?
Lava
Which combination is most characteristic of a shield volcano?
Broad, gentle slopes and relatively fluid lava
Why can composite volcanoes produce explosive eruptions?
Viscous magma can trap gases, allowing pressure to build
What is a volcanic hotspot?
An area of unusually hot rising mantle that can produce volcanoes away from plate boundaries
Which is a secondary hazard that can follow a volcanic eruption?
A lahar formed when ash mixes with water