Plate Tectonics Quizzes: Test Your Earth Science Knowledge

Question 1

What is the name of the supercontinent that existed approximately 300 million years ago, according to the theory of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Rodinia

Question 2

What is the hypothesised mechanism that drives plate movement, according to the theory of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents within the Earth's mantle

Answer

Tidal forces from the moon

Answer

Gravitational pull of the sun

Answer

Rotation of the Earth on its axis

Question 3

Which of the following is a characteristic of convergent plate boundaries, as defined by the theory of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Earthquakes and mountain building

Answer

Formation of new oceanic crust

Answer

Slow movement of plates

Answer

Absence of volcanic activity

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of a transform plate boundary, as defined by the theory of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

The San Andreas Fault

Answer

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Answer

The Mariana Trench

Answer

The Himalayas

Question 5

What is the relationship between the movement of tectonic plates and earthquakes, as explained by the theory of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Earthquakes occur along plate boundaries as a result of the build-up and release of stress

Answer

Earthquakes only occur in areas where there is volcanic activity

Answer

Earthquakes are not related to plate tectonics

Answer

Earthquakes are caused by the movement of fluids within the Earth's crust

Question 6

Which of the following is a current controversy or uncertainty related to plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

The exact mechanism that drives plate movement

Answer

The age of the Earth's crust

Answer

The location of the Earth's mantle

Answer

The number of tectonic plates

Question 7

Which factors affect the speed at which tectonic plates move?

Accepted Answer

Temperature of the mantle beneath the plate

Accepted Answer

Thickness and density of the oceanic crust

Accepted Answer

Presence of subduction zones

Answer

Age of the rocks on the plate

Question 8

Which of the following is the rigid outermost layer of the Earth composed of the crust and the uppermost mantle?

Accepted Answer

Lithosphere

Answer

Crust

Answer

Mantle

Answer

Core

Question 9

Which of the following processes drives the movement of tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents within the Earth's mantle

Answer

Gravitational forces between the Earth and the Moon

Answer

Magnetic fields generated by the Earth's core

Answer

Cosmic rays impacting the Earth's atmosphere

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a direct result of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

The occurrence of ice ages

Answer

The formation of mountain ranges

Answer

The creation of oceanic trenches

Answer

The eruption of volcanoes

Question 11

What process is responsible for the creation of new oceanic crust?

Accepted Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Metamorphism

Answer

Erosion

Question 12

What is the name of the scale used to measure the strength of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Richter

Answer

Mercalli

Answer

Moment

Answer

Modified Mercalli

Question 13

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move towards each other?

Accepted Answer

Convergent

Answer

Divergent

Answer

Transform

Answer

Subduction

Question 14

Which type of rock is formed when rocks are subjected to high temperatures and pressures at convergent plate boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Metamorphic

Answer

Igneous

Answer

Sedimentary

Answer

Volcanic

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of a geological feature formed due to volcanic activity at hotspots?

Accepted Answer

Hawaii

Answer

Mount Everest

Answer

The Great Barrier Reef

Answer

The Grand Canyon

Question 16

Which process involves the sinking of oceanic crust back into the mantle at convergent plate boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Subduction

Answer

Accretion

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Weathering

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a practical application of knowledge about plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Curing diseases

Answer

Predicting earthquake risks

Answer

Understanding the distribution of mineral resources

Answer

Exploring for fossil fuels

Question 18

Which of the following was the most recent supercontinent?

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Rodinia

Question 19

Which layer of the Earth is composed predominantly of solid rock?

Accepted Answer

Crust

Answer

Mantle

Answer

Outer core

Answer

Inner core

Question 20

At what type of plate boundary do two tectonic plates collide?

Accepted Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Obduction zone

Question 21

Through which process is oceanic crust recycled back into the mantle?

Accepted Answer

Subduction

Answer

Accretion

Answer

Orogeny

Answer

Metamorphism

Question 22

Which major geological feature is commonly associated with divergent plate boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Mid-ocean ridges

Answer

Trenches

Answer

Volcanic arcs

Answer

Fold mountains

Question 23

What is the scientific theory that comprehensively explains the movement of tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Plate tectonics

Answer

Continental drift

Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Transform theory

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a layer of the Earth's interior?

Accepted Answer

Atmosphere

Answer

Crust

Answer

Mantle

Answer

Outer Core

Question 25

Which type of plate boundary is formed when two plates collide head-on?

Accepted Answer

Convergent

Answer

Divergent

Answer

Transform

Answer

Passive

Question 26

What was the name of the supercontinent that existed approximately 250 million years ago?

Accepted Answer

Pangaea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Pangea Ultima

Question 27

What is the name of the scientific theory that explains the movement of Earth's lithosphere?

Accepted Answer

Theory of Plate Tectonics

Answer

Theory of Relativity

Answer

Theory of Universal Gravitation

Answer

Theory of Evolution

Question 28

How has technology played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Improved communication and accessibility of data

Accepted Answer

Increased accuracy and precision in measurements

Accepted Answer

Revealed previously unseen geological features

Answer

Provided a complete understanding of plate tectonics

Question 29

Where are natural hazards more likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

At plate boundaries

Answer

In the middle of tectonic plates

Answer

Randomly across the Earth's surface

Question 30

Which of the following is a type of plate boundary where two plates move away from each other?

Accepted Answer

Divergent Margin

Answer

Collision Zone

Answer

Subduction Zone

Answer

Fault Line

Question 31

What is the process responsible for the formation of new oceanic crust and the expansion of the ocean floor?

Accepted Answer

Seafloor Spreading

Answer

Continental Drift

Answer

Volcanism

Answer

Subduction

Question 32

What is the approximate thickness of the Earth's crust?

Accepted Answer

30-70 kilometers

Answer

500-600 kilometers

Answer

200-250 kilometers

Answer

100-150 kilometers

Question 33

What is the primary driving force behind the movement of Earth's tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Convection Currents in the Mantle

Answer

Rotation of the Earth

Answer

Wind Patterns on the Surface

Answer

Gravitational Pull of the Moon

Question 34

What is the name of the device used to detect and record seismic waves generated by earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Barometer

Answer

Anemometer

Question 35

What is the name of the process that creates new oceanic crust at divergent plate boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Faulting

Answer

Folding

Question 36

What geographical feature is typically found at a convergent boundary where an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate?

Accepted Answer

Volcanic arc

Answer

Transform fault

Answer

Mid-ocean ridge

Answer

Rift valley

Question 37

What is the name of the Earth's outermost layer, composed of rigid tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Lithosphere

Answer

Inner core

Answer

Asthenosphere

Answer

Mesosphere

Question 38

What is the process called when denser oceanic crust slides beneath less dense continental crust?

Accepted Answer

Subduction

Answer

Weathering

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Convection

Question 39

Which of the following does NOT provide evidence to support the theory of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

The presence of similar weather patterns on different continents.

Answer

Seafloor spreading patterns

Answer

The matching shapes of continental coastlines.

Answer

Fossil evidence of similar species on different continents

Question 40

The San Andreas Fault in California is an example of which type of plate boundary?

Accepted Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Subduction zone

Answer

Convergent boundary

Question 41

What is the primary driving force behind the movement of tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents in the mantle

Answer

Tidal forces

Answer

Earth's rotation

Answer

Gravity

Question 42

Which of these landforms is created by volcanic activity at a convergent plate boundary?

Accepted Answer

Mount Fuji

Answer

Grand Canyon

Answer

Dead Sea

Answer

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Question 43

What does the theory of plate tectonics help to explain?

Accepted Answer

The occurrence of earthquakes and volcanoes

Answer

Weather patterns

Answer

Ocean currents

Answer

Climate change