50 Important Plate Tectonic Theory Short Questions and Answers
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50 Important Plate Tectonic Theory Short Questions and Answers
For NTA NET JRF, SET exam preparation. and also for all states PSC, UPSC exam preparation.
Here we discussed most important short questions and answers from plate tectonic theory.
Q ➤ 1. Q: What is the Plate Tectonic Theory?Ans ➤ A: The Plate Tectonic Theory explains that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into large plates that move and interact with each other.
Q ➤ 2. Q: Who proposed the Plate Tectonic Theory?Ans ➤ A: Alfred Wegener proposed the initial concept of continental drift, which later evolved into the Plate Tectonic Theory. the word "plate" first used by j t willson. and the father of plate tectonic theory is Le pichon.
Q ➤ 3. Q: What evidence supports the Plate Tectonic Theory?Ans ➤ A: Fossil and rock similarities across continents, matching coastlines, and paleomagnetic data are among the evidence supporting the theory.
Q ➤ 4. Q: What drives the movement of tectonic plates?Ans ➤ A: The movement is driven by convection currents in the Earth's mantle.
Q ➤ 5. Q: Name the three main types of plate boundaries.Ans ➤ A: Divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.
Q ➤ 6. Q: What happens at a divergent boundary?Ans ➤ A: Plates move apart, creating new crust as magma rises from the mantle.
Q ➤ 7. Q: Give an example of a divergent boundary.Ans ➤ A: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Q ➤ 8. Q: What happens at a convergent boundary?Ans ➤ A: Plates move towards each other, leading to subduction or collision.
Q ➤ 9. Q: What is subduction?Ans ➤ A: Subduction is when one tectonic plate is forced beneath another into the mantle.
Q ➤ 10. Q: Provide an example of a convergent boundary.Ans ➤ A: The boundary between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, resulting in the Himalayan Mountains.
Q ➤ 11. Q: What happens at a transform boundary?Ans ➤ A: Plates slide past each other horizontally.
Q ➤ 12. Q: Name an example of a transform boundary.Ans ➤ A: The San Andreas Fault in California.
Q ➤ 13. Q: What are earthquakes and volcanoes often associated with?Ans ➤ A: They are often associated with tectonic plate boundaries.
Q ➤ 14. Q: What causes earthquakes at transform boundaries?Ans ➤ A: The release of built-up stress along faults.
Q ➤ 15. Q: What are hotspots?Ans ➤ A: Fixed points of volcanic activity that result from mantle plumes.
Q ➤ 16. Q: Name an example of a hotspot.Ans ➤ A: The Hawaiian Islands.
Q ➤ 17. Q: How does the Plate Tectonic Theory explain mountain formation?Ans ➤ A: Mountains form at convergent boundaries due to collision and uplift of crustal material.
Q ➤ 18. Q: What is seafloor spreading?Ans ➤ A: The process where new oceanic crust is formed at divergent boundaries.
Q ➤ 19. Q: What is the significance of the "Ring of Fire"?Ans ➤ A: It's a horseshoe-shaped area in the Pacific Ocean with intense tectonic activity and many earthquakes and volcanoes.
Q ➤ 20. Q: How do tectonic plates affect the distribution of continents and oceans?Ans ➤ A: They influence the positions and shapes of continents and oceans over geological time scales.
Q ➤ 21. Q: What is the lithosphere?Ans ➤ A: The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, composed of the crust and uppermost mantle.
Q ➤ 22. Q: How thick is the lithosphere?Ans ➤ A: It varies from about 5 to 100 kilometers in thickness.
Q ➤ 23. Q: What is the asthenosphere?Ans ➤ A: The asthenosphere is a partially molten layer beneath the lithosphere that allows for the movement of tectonic plates.
Q ➤ 24. Q: How fast do tectonic plates move?Ans ➤ A: They move at rates of a few centimeters per year.
Q ➤ 25. Q: What is continental rifting?Ans ➤ A: It's the process where a continent splits into two due to the formation of a divergent boundary.
Q ➤ 26. Q: What is the Wilson Cycle?Ans ➤ A: The cycle of ocean basin opening and closing due to plate tectonic processes.
Q ➤ 27. Q: How do subduction zones contribute to the recycling of Earth's crust?Ans ➤ A: They facilitate the sinking of oceanic crust into the mantle, where it's melted and recycled.
Q ➤ 28. Q: How does the Plate Tectonic Theory explain the formation of deep ocean trenches?Ans ➤ A: Trenches are formed at convergent boundaries where one plate is subducted beneath another.
Q ➤ 29. Q: What are transform faults?Ans ➤ A: They are strike-slip faults that accommodate horizontal movement between two plates.
Q ➤ 30. Q: How do scientists study plate tectonics?Ans ➤ A: They use techniques like GPS, satellite imagery, seismic studies, and paleomagnetic analysis.
Q ➤ 31. Q: What is a mid-ocean ridge?Ans ➤ A: A long underwater mountain range formed at divergent boundaries.
Q ➤ 32. Q: What is paleomagnetism?Ans ➤ A: The study of Earth's ancient magnetic field recorded in rocks.
Q ➤ 33. Q: How do magnetic stripes on the ocean floor support seafloor spreading?Ans ➤ A: They show alternating patterns of normal and reversed magnetic polarity, indicating periods of crust formation.
Q ➤ 34. Q: How does the Plate Tectonic Theory relate to the distribution of earthquakes?Ans ➤ A: Most earthquakes occur along plate boundaries due to the movement of tectonic plates.
Q ➤ 35. Q: What is the difference between a rift valley and a trench?Ans ➤ A: A rift valley forms at a divergent boundary on land, while a trench forms at a convergent boundary under the ocean.
Q ➤ 36. Q: What is the concept of "supercontinents"?Ans ➤ A: It refers to large landmasses formed by the collision and aggregation of multiple continents.
Q ➤ 37. Q: How do scientists determine the direction and rate of plate movement?Ans ➤ A: GPS measurements are used to track the movement of specific points on the Earth's surface.
Q ➤ 38. Q: How has the Plate Tectonic Theory impacted our understanding of Earth's history?Ans ➤ A: It has provided a unifying framework for explaining the Earth's geological features and processes.
Q ➤ 39. Q: What is the "Great Unconformity" and how does it relate to plate tectonics?Ans ➤ A: The Great Unconformity is a significant gap in the rock record. Plate tectonics and erosion are thought to be responsible for this phenomenon.
Q ➤ 40. Q: How does the Plate Tectonic Theory explain the formation of island arcs?Ans ➤ A: Island arcs form at convergent boundaries where an oceanic plate subducts beneath another plate, creating volcanic activity.
Q ➤ 41. Q: What is the significance of the San Andreas Fault?Ans ➤ A: The San Andreas Fault is a transform boundary where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate slide past each other.
Q ➤ 42. Q: How does the Plate Tectonic Theory explain the formation of deep-sea trenches?Ans ➤ A: Deep-sea trenches are formed at convergent boundaries where oceanic crust is subducted beneath continental or other oceanic crust.
Q ➤ 43. Q: What is a subduction zone and what features are associated with it?Ans ➤ A: A subduction zone is a convergent boundary where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another. Features include deep-sea trenches and volcanic arcs.
Q ➤ 44. Q: How do hotspot volcanoes differ from those at plate boundaries?Ans ➤ A: Hotspot volcanoes are created by mantle plumes that generate volcanic activity away from plate boundaries, while boundary-related volcanoes occur along plate edges.
Q ➤ 45. Q: How did the discovery of plate tectonics revolutionize the field of geology?Ans ➤ A: It provided a comprehensive explanation for the Earth's dynamic processes, including the formation of mountains, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
Q ➤ 46. Q: What is the concept of "paleogeography"?Ans ➤ A: Paleogeography is the study of the Earth's past geographic configurations, which has been influenced by the movement of tectonic plates.
Q ➤ 47. Q: How does the Plate Tectonic Theory explain the formation of rift valleys?Ans ➤ A: Rift valleys are formed when a divergent boundary occurs within a continent, causing it to split apart.
Q ➤ 48. Q: What is the connection between plate tectonics and the formation of mineral resources?Ans ➤ A: Plate tectonics plays a role in the concentration and distribution of mineral resources due to processes like subduction and crustal deformation.
Q ➤ 49. Q: How does the Plate Tectonic Theory relate to the distribution of oceanic and continental crust?Ans ➤ A: Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust and is often involved in subduction at convergent boundaries.
Q ➤ 50. Q: What is the role of convection currents in the mantle in plate tectonics?Ans ➤ A: Convection currents in the mantle drive the movement of tectonic plates by transferring heat and causing circulation.
