Tectonics Fact Attack Flashcards
How old is earth?
4.6 billion years
What shape is Earth?
Geoid
How thick is oceanic crust?
7-20km
How thick is continental crust?
70km
What type of rock is the oceanic plate made from?
SIMA - Silica and Magnesium
What type of rock are continental plates made from?
SIAL - Silica and Aluminium
What type of plate is denser?
Oceanic
What is the lithosphere?
The crust and upper most part of the mantle
What is asthenosphere?
The liquid mantle
What layers of earth are liquid?
Mantle and outer core
Explain why inner core is solid?
Due to gravitational pressure from the rest of the planet
What is the temperature of the inner core?
5000-6000°c
Name of super continent?
Pangaea
When did Wegner come up with continental drift?
1912
Name 4 pieces of evidence that Wegner used?
- Similar fossils in South America and Africa
-Coal under Antarctica - Matching striations
- Puzzle fit between continents like South America and Africa
When was Harry Hess’ theory?
1962
How did Harry Hess prove Wegners theory?
Palaeomagnitism - magnetic N/S pole which switches every 400,000 years making rocks align differntly
How does sea floor spreading help prove Wegeners theory?
New land being created proves that plates are moving
Name 3 tectonic plates?
Eurasian
North American
Pacific
How tall can mid Atlantic ridges be?
4000 metres above sea floor
Locate a famous rift valley?
Ethiopia - East African Rift
How many countries does the East African Rift stretch through and how long is it?
8 countries
6000km
Name 3 examples of fold mountain ranges?
Himalayas
Rockies
Andes
Example of oceanic trench?
Mariana Trench