Plate Tectonics MCQ Test: Plate Tectonics MCQs - Practice Questions
1. In plate tectonics, what is the term for a boundary where two plates move away from each other, allowing magma to rise and create new crust?
2. What geological feature is formed when two oceanic plates converge, leading to the older, denser plate subducting beneath the other?
3. What type of plate boundary is characterized by tectonic plates sliding past each other horizontally?
4. What geological phenomenon results from the sliding of tectonic plates past each other horizontally?
5. What is the term for a fracture in the Earth's crust where movement has occurred?
6. Which tectonic plate is the Pacific Ring of Fire associated with?
7. Which tectonic plate is the largest and mainly composed of oceanic crust?
8. Which ocean is expanding due to the presence of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and seafloor spreading?
9. In plate tectonics, what is the term for a boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally without colliding or separating?
10. What is the theory proposing that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere and move over time?
11. What is the term for the point on the Earth's surface directly above the origin of an earthquake?
12. Which type of plate boundary is associated with the Himalayan mountain range?
13. What process involves one tectonic plate sliding beneath another at a subduction zone?
14. Which ocean is associated with the Ring of Fire, known for its intense tectonic activity, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions?
15. What is the term for the molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, capable of reaching the surface through volcanic activity?
16. What is the term for the gradual movement of continents over time?
17. What type of plate boundary is characterized by two plates moving toward each other, resulting in the collision and potential uplift of crustal material?
18. Which type of plate boundary is characterized by plates colliding, with one plate being forced beneath the other into the mantle?
19. What is the term for the process where two continental plates collide, leading to the crumpling and folding of the Earth's crust?
20. Which mountain range is a result of the collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate?
21. What is the name of the supercontinent that existed millions of years ago and later split into separate continents?
22. In the context of plate tectonics, what is the term for the process where an oceanic plate sinks beneath a continental plate?
23. What is the term for the process where two plates slide past each other horizontally, causing a lateral displacement?
24. Which type of fault occurs when rocks on either side of the fault move horizontally past each other, resulting in a lateral displacement?
25. Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of volcanic islands?
26. In plate tectonics, what is the term for the uppermost layer of the Earth's mantle, which behaves in a brittle manner?
27. In the context of plate tectonics, what is the name of the underwater mountain range that runs down the center of the Atlantic Ocean?
28. Which geological feature is formed by the accumulation of volcanic debris around a vent, resulting in a steep conical hill?
29. What is the term for the process where an oceanic plate is forced beneath another plate into the mantle, often forming a volcanic arc?
30. What is the term for the boundary where two tectonic plates move away from each other?
31. What is the term for molten rock beneath the Earth's surface?
32. What is the term for a circular volcanic crater formed by the collapse of a volcano's summit following a massive eruption?
33. What geological phenomenon occurs when two plates grind past each other horizontally, causing earthquakes along the boundary?
34. What is the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges?
35. Which type of seismic wave travels through the Earth's interior and is responsible for causing the most damage during an earthquake?
36. Which tectonic plate is responsible for the Himalayan mountain range, formed by its collision with the Eurasian Plate?
37. Which scientist proposed the theory of continental drift, suggesting that continents were once connected and have since drifted apart?
38. Which famous rift valley is a result of the East African Rift, showcasing the ongoing divergence of the African Plate?
39. What is the term for the process of tectonic plates scraping past each other horizontally, causing friction and eventually releasing stored energy in the form of an earthquake?
40. What is the term for the process where tectonic plates grind against each other, causing earthquakes?
41. Which type of plate boundary is characterized by plates sliding past each other horizontally, causing earthquakes?
42. What is the term for the phenomenon where an oceanic plate bends and descends into the mantle at a subduction zone?
43. What is the term for a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, often caused by the movement of tectonic plates?
44. What is the term for a volcanic island arc that forms as a result of the subduction of one oceanic plate beneath another?
45. What type of plate boundary is characterized by plates moving away from each other, leading to the formation of new crust?
46. What is the term for the circular motion of material in the mantle caused by variations in temperature and density, driving the movement of tectonic plates?
47. What is the term for a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves?
48. Which tectonic plate is responsible for the formation of the Himalayan mountain range?
49. Which tectonic plate is responsible for the volcanic activity in the Yellowstone National Park region?
50. Which layer of the Earth is directly involved in the movements of tectonic plates?