Plate Tectonics: Earth's Moving Plates - Interactive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

What is the primary driving force behind plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents in the mantle

Answer

Gravitational pull of the moon

Answer

Rotation of the Earth

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Question 2

What process describes one plate moving beneath another?

Accepted Answer

Subduction

Answer

Obduction

Answer

Collision

Answer

Rift

Question 3

Which factor does NOT influence the magnitude of an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

Population density of the affected area

Answer

Depth of the earthquake

Answer

Type of fault

Answer

Distance from the epicenter

Question 4

What is the main purpose of the Richter scale?

Accepted Answer

To measure the magnitude of an earthquake

Answer

To measure the intensity of an earthquake

Answer

To predict the location of an earthquake

Answer

To determine the damage caused by an earthquake

Question 5

The process by which new oceanic crust is formed is:

Accepted Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Continental drift

Answer

Mountain building

Question 6

Which of the following mountain ranges was formed by the collision of two continental plates?

Accepted Answer

The Himalayas

Answer

The Andes

Answer

The Rocky Mountains

Answer

The Alps

Question 7

The main driving force behind plate tectonics is:

Accepted Answer

Convection currents in the mantle

Answer

Solar radiation

Answer

Electromagnetic forces

Answer

Gravitational pull of the moon

Question 8

The type of plate boundary characterized by the formation of rift valleys is:

Accepted Answer

Divergent boundary

Answer

Convergent boundary

Answer

Transform boundary

Answer

Collision zone

Question 9

The supercontinent that existed approximately 200 million years ago is called:

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Rodinia

Question 10

A type of volcanic eruption commonly associated with a divergent plate boundary is:

Accepted Answer

Effusive eruption with lava flows

Answer

Explosive eruption with large ash plumes

Answer

Volcanic caldera formation

Answer

Pyroclastic flow

Question 11

The primary mechanism by which continental drift occurs is:

Accepted Answer

Convection currents in the mantle

Answer

Wind and water erosion

Answer

Gravitational forces

Answer

Solar radiation

Question 12

Which term does NOT describe a type of plate boundary?

Accepted Answer

Subduction zone

Answer

Convergent

Answer

Divergent

Answer

Transform

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a force that drives plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

The rotation of the Earth

Answer

Convection currents in the mantle

Answer

Slab pull

Answer

Ridge push

Question 14

What is the process by which new oceanic crust is formed?

Accepted Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Mountain building

Answer

Volcanism

Question 15

Which of the following is a major mountain range that was formed by the collision of two continental plates?

Accepted Answer

Himalayas

Answer

Alps

Answer

Andes

Answer

Ural Mountains

Question 16

What is the primary cause of volcanic eruptions?

Accepted Answer

Buildup of magma in the Earth's crust

Answer

Earthquakes

Answer

Tsunamis

Answer

Climate change

Question 17

What is the term for the process by which oceanic crust is recycled back into the mantle?

Accepted Answer

Subduction

Answer

Accretion

Answer

Obduction

Answer

Rift formation

Question 18

Which of the following is a major plate tectonic feature that is associated with divergent plate boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Mid-ocean ridge

Answer

Subduction zone

Answer

Transform fault

Answer

Hot spot

Question 19

What is the name of the theory that explains the movement of the Earth's lithospheric plates?

Accepted Answer

Theory of Plate Tectonics

Answer

Theory of Seafloor Spreading

Answer

Theory of Continental Drift

Answer

Theory of Mountain Building

Question 20

Which type of plate boundary is NOT characterized by the creation of new crust?

Accepted Answer

Transform

Answer

Convergent

Answer

Divergent

Answer

Subduction

Question 21

Which of the following drives the movement of tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents in the mantle

Answer

Gravity

Answer

Solar radiation

Answer

Tidal forces

Question 22

What type of fault occurs when two plates slide past each other horizontally, generating significant earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Strike-slip fault

Answer

Normal fault

Answer

Reverse fault

Answer

Thrust fault

Question 23

Which type of seismic wave travels fastest through the Earth's interior?

Accepted Answer

P-wave

Answer

S-wave

Answer

Surface wave

Answer

T-wave

Question 24

What instrument is used to record and measure the magnitude of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Accelerograph

Answer

Barograph

Answer

Magnetometer

Question 25

What is the scientific term for the process that forms mountain ranges?

Accepted Answer

Orogeny

Answer

Isostasy

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Accretion

Question 26

What is the primary force that causes tectonic plates to move?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents in the Earth's mantle

Answer

Gravitational pull from the Moon

Answer

Rotation of the Earth on its axis

Answer

Wind currents in the atmosphere

Question 27

The generation of new oceanic crust occurs through which process?

Accepted Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Subduction

Answer

Continental drift

Answer

Mountain building

Question 28

Which of the following forces serves as a primary driver of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents

Answer

Earth's rotation

Answer

Gravity

Answer

Magnetic force

Question 29

Identify an example of a convergent plate boundary:

Accepted Answer

Himalayan Mountains

Answer

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Answer

San Andreas Fault

Answer

Red Sea

Question 30

How do convection currents in the Earth's mantle contribute to the movement of tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents transfer heat within the mantle, causing the lithosphere to shift and interact at plate boundaries.

Answer

Convection currents only occur at the edges of tectonic plates.

Answer

Convection currents flow in a constant direction within the mantle.

Answer

Convection currents are only found in the Earth's lithosphere.

Question 31

According to the theory of plate tectonics, the Earth's lithosphere is made up of:

Accepted Answer

Multiple, rigid plates that move around the Earth's surface.

Answer

A single, solid layer that doesn't move.

Answer

A continuous, molten layer.

Question 32

Despite its widespread acceptance, the theory of plate tectonics has some limitations and ongoing debates. Which of the following is NOT one of these limitations or debates?

Accepted Answer

Plate tectonics theory can accurately predict the exact location and timing of future earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Answer

The exact mechanisms driving plate movement are still unclear.

Answer

Plate boundaries can be challenging to locate precisely.

Answer

Plate tectonics is thought to be unique to Earth.

Question 33

Who is credited with first proposing the theory of continental drift?

Accepted Answer

Alfred Wegener

Answer

Charles Darwin

Answer

J. Tuzo Wilson

Question 34

Which of the following is a type of volcanic eruption characterized by violent explosions and the emission of pyroclastic material?

Accepted Answer

Plinian eruption

Answer

Vulcanian eruption

Answer

Strombolian eruption

Answer

Hawaiian eruption

Question 35

What is the name of the supercontinent that existed approximately 300 million years ago?

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Rodinia

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Gondwana

Question 36

What is the name of the theory that explains the formation of new lithosphere at mid-ocean ridges?

Accepted Answer

Seafloor spreading

Answer

Continental drift

Answer

Plate tectonics

Question 37

What is the name of the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

Epicenter

Answer

Tectonic center

Answer

Hypocenter

Answer

Seismic center

Question 38

Which type of fault is characterized by horizontal displacement of rock blocks past each other?

Accepted Answer

Strike-slip fault

Answer

Oblique-slip fault

Answer

Thrust fault

Answer

Dip-slip fault

Question 39

What is the name of the instrument used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Accelerometer

Answer

Strain gauge

Answer

Tiltmeter

Question 40

What is the primary driving force behind plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents within the mantle

Answer

Solar radiation

Answer

Gravitational pull of the moon

Answer

Rotation of the Earth

Question 41

Which type of plate boundary is associated with the creation of new oceanic crust?

Accepted Answer

Oceanic-oceanic divergence

Answer

Oceanic-continental convergence

Answer

Continental-continental convergence

Answer

Transform fault

Question 42

What was the name of the supercontinent that existed approximately 200 million years ago?

Accepted Answer

Pangea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Rodinia

Question 43

Which type of geological fault is responsible for generating the movement of the San Andreas Fault in California?

Accepted Answer

Transform fault

Answer

Normal fault

Answer

Reverse fault

Question 44

What is the scientific instrument used to record and measure earthquakes called?

Accepted Answer

Seismograph

Answer

Thermometer

Answer

Anemometer

Answer

Barograph

Question 45

Which of the following is a potential benefit of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Formation of new landmasses

Answer

Destruction of ecosystems

Answer

Increased frequency of volcanic eruptions

Answer

Release of harmful greenhouse gases

Question 46

Approximately how old is the planet Earth?

Accepted Answer

4.6 billion years

Answer

2.5 billion years

Answer

1.5 billion years

Answer

3.5 billion years