GS 104

Earth’s structure and plate tectonics                    

  

1.  Know the basic structure of the earth and each of the following layers.  Describe the

     relative density of each, know their basic composition and their physical state (solid, liquid,

     or plastic)

a.  continental crust                 c.  mantle                                 e.  inner core

b.  oceanic crust                      d.  outer core

 

2.  Understand the basic method that was used to determine the interior structure of the earth

      and the size/physical state of each region?

 

3.  What is the difference between P-waves and S-waves based on how they move, their velocity and what material they can travel through.

 

4.  What are P-wave and S-wave shadow zones and what causes them?

 

5.  Be able to use Snell’s law to determine the velocity of a P or S wave as it travels though the earth in different layers      sin f₁/sinf₂ =V₁/V₂

 

6.  Know what a discontinuity is and where the Moho, Gutenberg and Lehmann Discontinuities are located in earth.

 

7.  Be able to list two methods used to determine the composition of the interior of the earth.

 

8.  Who was Alfred Wegener and how is he related to the concept of continental drift?

 

9.  Be able to discuss at least 2 lines of evidence Wegener used to support the idea that the continents had at one time formed a super continental that has since broken apart.

 

10.  What is paleomagnetism and how was it used to understand the theory of plate tectonics.

 

11.  Explain what each type of plate boundary is, what type of plate motion occurs at each and what are the common features of each

      Divergent boundaries

      Convergent boundaries (Oceanic to oceanic convergence, Continental to oceanic convergence

         and continental to continental convergence)

      Transform boundaries

 

13. Describe how each of the following contribute to the support of plate tectonic theory.

          Paleomagnetism

          Earthquake patterns

          Age of the ocean crust

 

14. Explain what a hot spot is and why they form chains of volcanoes

 

15.  Explain the driving mechanisms responsible for plate motion:

             Slab-pull        

             Convection currents

              Ridge push

 

16.  How are earthquakes and volcanoes related to plate boundaries.  Know which boundaries volcanoes occur at and which boundaries earthquakes occur at.