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SCIENCE REVIEWER

1. PLATES - These are numerous segments of the lithosphere.

2. PLATE TECTONICS- A scientific theory that explains how landforms are created from the
movement of the earth.
3. LITHOSPHERE - This is the outermost layer of the earth and consists of the crust and
upper mantle.
4. ASTHENOSPHERE - This is a part of the upper mantle located right below the Lithosphere.
5. CONTINENTAL CRUST - This is mostly composed of granite and is much less dense. Much
older (4 billion years old) and are very thick (10-70 km thick) Divided into six parts called
continents.
6. OCEANIC CRUST - Consists primarily of basalt that makes it very dense compared to
continental crust. 200 million years old and about 7 kilometers. The oceanic crust has a
limited lifespan due to the subduction process.
7. EARTH’S CRUST - Not a continuous layer and made up of TECTONIC PLATES.
8. COLLISION ZONE - Created when two continental plates converge and create a mountain
range.

IMPORTANT FEATURES OF PLATES

1. A plate margin is tectonically active. Earthquakes and volcanoes are common along plate
boundaries.
2. A plate is a part of the lithosphere.
3. One plate can carry both oceanic and continental crusts.
4. Tectonic plates move at a very slow rate. Continental and Oceanic crusts move across the
earth at the same rate at which the plates move.

WHY DOES KNOWING PLATE LOCATIONS MATTER?

➢ These plate locations give insight into other patterns. Locations of mountain ranges, deep
ocean trenches, ocean floor structures, earthquakes and volcanoes.

SUBDUCTION is impossible between two colliding continental plates. This process occurs on the
convergence of Continental and Oceanic plates, in which the denser oceanic crust bends down into
the mantle, melts and turns into magma that will eventually rise and create volcanic activity.

CONVERGENCE OF OCEANIC PLATES

Converging of oceanic plates will cause the formation of trenches which will become sources of
earthquakes. Underwater earthquakes that are stronger can generate tsunamis.
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TSUNAMI is a series of ocean waves with very long wavelengths.

The leading age of the subducted plate (Oceanic plate) will eventually reach the mantle leading it
to melt and turn into magma. The magma will rise to the surface creating a volcanic island arc
parallel to the trench.

VOLCANIC ISLAND ARC is a chain of volcanoes positioned in an arc shape.

DIVERGENCE OF PLATES

Three kinds of Plate Boundaries

1. DIVERGENT
➔ Occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other.
➔ Results to a wider ocean floor.
➔ TWO KINDS OF DIVERGENT BOUNDARIES:
➢ Continental to Continental: Magma rises beneath the continent, causing it to
become thinner, break, and ultimately split apart.
➢ Oceanic to Oceanic: Most active divergent plate boundaries occur between
oceanic plates and exist as mid-oceanic ridges. Convection Currents are a crucial
mechanism that facilitates the divergence of oceanic plates, leading to the
formation of new oceanic crust.

2. CONVERGENT
➔ Occurs when two tectonic plates push or converge against each other.

3. TRANSFORM
➔ Also known as conservative boundaries, occur where two tectonic plates slide past one
another horizontally.
➔ Fracture Zone is called “Transform fault” (Strike streak fault)
➔ TWO KINDS OF TRANSFORM PLATE BOUNDARIES:
➢ Continental to Continental:These occur on land where tectonic plates slide past
each other.
➢ Oceanic to Oceanic: These occur on the ocean floor and are characterized by
faults that offset mid-ocean ridges.

LOCATING THE EPICENTER OF AN EARTHQUAKE

1. TRIANGULATION - A mathematical method for locating the epicenter of an earthquake

using three or more data sets from seismic stations.

2. SEISMOGRAPHS - Earthquake monitoring instruments that record the seismic waves of the
earthquake that collects that data.

3. SEISMOGRAM - A sheet of paper where a seismograph records earthquake activity by

plotting vibrations.
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4. EPICENTER - A point on the surface of the earth directly above the focus of the
Earthquake.

5. FOCUS- The point within the Earth from which earthquake waves originate.

6. EARTHQUAKE - In an earthquake, stored energy is suddenly released through a movement

along a fault.

7. FAULT - Is a fracture or zone of fractures in rock along which the two sides have been
displaced relative to each other parallel to the fracture.

EARTH'S INTERIOR

1. INNER CORE - Deepest layer of the earth. It is made of Solid Iron and Nickel. Has a
temperature of 5000 C, 2,600 km diameter and 250% hotter than the outer core.

2. LEHMAN DISCONTINUITY - Boundary between inner core and outer core.

Named after Inge Lehman who discovered the properties of outer and inner core.

3. OUTER CORE - It is beneath the mantle. It is composed of Molten Iron and Nickel. Has a
temperature of 2000 C and is 2,250 km thick.

4. GUTENBERG DISCONTINUITY - Boundary between outer core and mantle. Named after
Beno Gutenberg who is an American - German seismologist.

5. MANTLE - Intermediate zone between crust and core. Mostly consist of Solid Rocks or
solicit materials. 80% of earth’s volume and 68% of earths mass. Has temperature of 15,000
C to 30,000 C.
➔ Upper Mantle: Is relatively rigid and contains the asthenosphere, a semi-fluid layer
that allows the movement of tectonic plates.
➔ Lower Mantle: The solid lower mantle contributes to the overall convection and heat
transfer within the Earth's interior.

6. MOHO DISCONTINUITY - This is the boundary between the Earths crust and the mantle.
Discovered by a Croatioan scientist, Andreaja Mohorovicic. This Boundary marks a change in
seismic-wave velocity from the crust to the uppermost mantle within the plate.

7. CRUST- The Earth’s Outermost layer. Thinnest and rocky outer layer. 32 km below.

SEISMIC WAVES are mechanical waves of acoustic energy that travels through the earth or
another planetary body. It can result from an earthquake, volcanic eruption or magma movement.

2 TYPES OF SEISMIC WAVES

1. SURFACE WAVES - Can only travel through the surface of the earth. Arrive after P waves
and S waves.
➔ 2 TYPES:
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➢ Love Wave: Named after A.E.H Love who worked out on a mathematical model
for this wave. FASTER than Rayleigh.
➢ Its movement is Side to Side, Horizontal Motion like a snake.
➢ Rayleigh Wave: Named after John William Strutt, Lord Rayleigh who predicted
the existence of this wave in 1885. Rolls along the ground.
➢ Its movement is Up And Down, Side to Side

2. BODY WAVES - Can travel to Earth’s Inner Layer. Scientists use body waves to study
earth’s interiors. Have high frequency.
➔ 2 TYPES:
➢ Primary Waves (P Waves): Pulse energy that travels quickly. Travels through
SOLID, LIQUID, GAS. Compressional wave. FASTEST kind of Wave and is
detected first by seismographs.

➢
➢ Secondary Waves (S Waves): Shear wave or transverse wave. Slower that P
waves. Cannot travel through liquid medium led to seismologist that outer core is
liquid.