Question 1

Which of the following is not evidence supporting plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Changes in lunar tides are not related to plate tectonics; they are influenced by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. The other options are related to evidence supporting plate tectonics.

Question 2

The highest temperature at which magnetic material can retain permanent magnetization is called the

Accepted Answer

Curie Point is the highest temperature at which magnetic material can retain permanent magnetization.

Question 3

A typical rate of seafloor spreading along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is

Accepted Answer

The typical rate of seafloor spreading along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is 2 to 4 centimeters per year.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true for the asthenosphere?

Accepted Answer

The asthenosphere is a zone in the upper mantle that, while solid, behaves plastically and can flow slowly, allowing for tectonic plate movement.

Question 5

How does plate tectonics influence the composition of ocean water?

Accepted Answer

Submarine volcanoes along mid-ocean ridges cause chemical reactions between ocean water and hot rocks, altering the ocean's chemical composition.

Question 6

What does the flotation height of an object depend upon?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does the flotation height of an...

Question 7

Although the Himalaya Mountains are still growing today, eventually (regardless of whether the collision between the Australian-Indian plate and the Eurasian plate continues or not) the mountain will stop growing. Why is that?

Accepted Answer

Isostatic adjustment refers to the Earth's crust rising or sinking until it reaches equilibrium. As the Himalayas grow, erosion and the weight of the mountains cause the crust to adjust, eventually balancing the forces and stopping further growth.

Question 8

An assemblage of cratons and orogens is called a

Accepted Answer

A continental shield is a large stable area of the Earth's crust composed of cratons and orogens, typically found in the interior of continents.

Question 9

The break-up of Pangaea to form our modern-day continents started about how long ago?

Accepted Answer

The break-up of Pangaea began around 200 million years ago during the early Jurassic period.

Question 10

Assume there is a mountain range with a deep root of low-density continental rock extending into the underlying asthenosphere. Would this produce a negative or positive gravity anomaly?

Accepted Answer

A deep root of low-density continental rock would displace denser asthenosphere material, leading to a negative gravity anomaly due to the lower density of the root compared to the surrounding materials.

Question 11

About how old is the oldest craton within the North American continental shield?

Accepted Answer

The oldest craton within the North American continental shield, the Canadian Shield, is greater than 2.5 billion years old. Cratons are ancient and stable parts of the continental lithosphere.

Question 12

About how old are the oldest known rocks on Earth?

Accepted Answer

The oldest known rocks on Earth are approximately 4.28 billion years old, found in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada.

Question 13

The volcanic mountain range of the Andes is defined as a

Accepted Answer

The Andes is a continental volcanic arc formed by the subduction of oceanic crust beneath the South American continental plate.

Question 14

What is the Benioff Zone?

Accepted Answer

The Benioff Zone is a seismically active area where one tectonic plate is being subducted beneath another, leading to earthquakes.

Quiz 5: The Tectonic Cycle