Definitions: Plates And Landforms (1)

Question 1

Continental shelf

Answer 1

The edge of a continent that lies under relatively shallow water. The shelf descends towards the ocean floor by the continental slope

Question 2

Plates

Answer 2

Very large sections that the outer layers of the earth are broken into

Question 3

Transform plate boundaries

Answer 3

When two plates slide past each other. Rock is neither created not destroyed, there are passive boundaries

Question 4

Divergent plate boundary

Answer 4

When two plates deprecate from each other. New rock is created, these are constructive boundaries

Question 5

Convergent plate boundaries

Answer 5

When two plates collide. Rock is destroyed, these are destructive boundaries

Question 6

Subduction

Answer 6

The process where the heavier plate slides beneath the lighter plate and slips down into the mantle

Question 7

Fold

Answer 7

A bend or curve in the stratified rocks of the earths crust

Question 8

Fault

Answer 8

A crack or fracture in the earths crust

Question 9

Anticline

Answer 9

An upward fold resulting from the compression of rocks

Question 10

Orogeny

Answer 10

The term used to describe a period of mountain building

Question 11

Seismology

Answer 11

Study of earthquakes

Question 12

Focus

Answer 12

The place where the energy from an earthquake is first released deep below the earth’s surface

Question 13

Epicentre

Answer 13

The point on the earths surface directly above the focus

Question 14

Liquefaction

Answer 14

Clays and sands mix with the ground water during an earthquake. This turns the ground into quicksand like material in minutes

Question 15

Basic lava

Answer 15

Low in silica and very runny, eruptions are gentle

Question 16

Acidic lava

Answer 16

High in silica and pasty. Eruptions are violent

Question 17

Pyroclastic materials

Answer 17

Group name for the airborne debris that erupts from a volcano. It includes ash, dust, cinders, pebbles and rocks

Question 18

Extrusive landforms

Answer 18

When magma makes its way to the surface of the earth and it is known as lava, it cools and solidifies to form various structures. Because these structures on the the surface, they are known as extrusive landforms

Question 19

Intrusive landforms

Answer 19

Some magma involved in an eruption does not reach the surface, instead it forces its way into the rocks of the crust. It then cools deep underground to form intrusive landforms

Question 20

Syncline

Answer 20

A downward fold resulting from the compression of rocks