Chapter 7- Plate Tectonics

Question 1

Geosyncline model

Answer 1

idea that lateral compression was caused by contraction theory, the idea of the earth getting smaller.

Question 2

continental drift

Answer 2

theory that the position of the continents has changed over time, first proposed by Wagner in 1915 but he couldn’t provide a mechanism

Question 3

passive plate tectonics

Answer 3

evidence from ocean basin research set up during the cold war provided evidence that continents were not static. not accepted until the 1960s

Question 4

active plate tectonics

Answer 4

80s/90s passive model was not mechanically or thermodynamically robust

Question 5

evidence for continental drift

Answer 5

fit of the continents - africa and SA
rock types- upper triassic flood basalts
mountain chains- precambrian fold mountain chain across africa and sa
fossils- carboniferous mesosaurus and glossopteris
glaciation

Question 6

geodesy

Answer 6

field of science that studies the size and shape of the earth and precise location points on the surface

Question 7

ellipsoid

Answer 7

basic theoretical shape of the earth, used for work on a global scale. can be completely smooth, not including mountains/valleys bc it takes the average elevation

Question 8

geoid

Answer 8

mean sea level due to gravity and rotation of the earth alone

Question 9

apparent polar wandering curve

Answer 9

line on a map which joins the apparent positions of the magnetic north pole over time

Question 10

orogeny

Answer 10

a period of mountain building

Question 10

transform fault

Answer 10

a strike-slip fault which ends at the junction of another plate boundary or fault
same amount of deformation across the fault zone

Question 11

tear fault

Answer 11

a strike-slip fault which dies out without the junction of another fault
more displacement in the middle of the fault zone

Question 12

transform plate boundary

Answer 12

a fault where no crust is created or destroyed