When answering these questions, please explore all informational exhibits on the specified web page. Make sure you write out each question before answering.

Sea Floor Spreading and Subduction

1: What is sea floor spreading?

2: What is subduction?

3: How do the two forces operate together like a giant slow motion conveyer belt?

(Use all informational exhibits.)

4: Tectonic plates help explain why the earth is always going through major geological changes.

True or false? Explain.

5: If the earth does not constantly change, it would probably be lifeless.

True or false? Explain.

6: Why does the denser of two tectonic plates go under the less dense plate in the process of subduction?

7: What happens if two tectonic plates of equal density meet?

 

 

Earthquakes

1: What causes an earthquake?

2: What determines how powerful an earthquake is?

3: What is the difference between p waves (primary) and s waves (secondary) ?

4: How is energy released in an earthquake?

5: What is an epicenter?

6: What are surface waves?

7: What causes most deaths in an earthquake?

 

 

Deformation

1: Define the following three terms: 1: compression 2: Shearing 3: Tension

2: What is a fault?

3: What causes faults in the earth’s crust?

4: How would you define deformation?

5: Do earth’s geological forces happen for the benefit of humankind? Explain.