Plate tectonics: Practice Questions

What is the name given to the type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates move toward each other?

Which statement best describes the physical state and role of the Earth's mantle in the movement of tectonic plates?

Tsunamis can have devastating effects on marine ecosystems. Which of the following is a long-term impact on a coral reef caused by the backwash of a tsunami?

Which type of tectonic plate boundary is characterized by two plates moving away from each other?

While most waves are caused by wind, a tsunami is caused by geological events. Which of the following best describes the physical change in the ocean that generates a tsunami during an undersea earthquake?

According to the theory of plate tectonics, what is the primary cause of a tsunami occurring in the ocean?

Explain the role of convection currents within the Earth's mantle in the movement of tectonic plates.

Describe how the velocity and wavelength of a tsunami change as the wave moves from the deep open ocean into shallower coastal waters.

A tsunami is a powerful natural event that can have devastating consequences for coastal regions.

a) Describe the geological event that most commonly causes the formation of a tsunami.

b) Outline one specific negative impact of a tsunami on a marine ecosystem and one negative impact on a human coastal community.

The movement of tectonic plates at their boundaries creates various geological features on the seafloor.

a) Compare the movement of plates at a divergent boundary with the movement at a transform boundary.

b) Explain why volcanoes are commonly found at convergent boundaries but are generally absent at transform boundaries.

c) Name one specific geomorphological feature, such as a trench or ridge, that is formed at a convergent plate boundary.