Geography Unit Test 1 Revision – Chps.

1 & 2

1) How are crater lakes formed?

Crater lakes are formed in volcanic craters or calderas that have filled with water over
time.

1. Volcanic Activity: Crater lakes typically form in volcanic craters or calderas. These
craters are created when a volcano erupts explosively, ejecting a large amount of
magma and ash. This eruption can cause the top of the volcano to collapse, forming a
depression or bowl-shaped crater.
2. Formation of a Crater: After the volcanic activity subsides, the volcanic crater or
caldera may be left behind. The size of the crater can vary greatly, from small to
large, depending on the eruption's magnitude.
3. Accumulation of Water: Over time, the crater can begin to accumulate water from
various sources such as rain, melted snow, and groundwater seepage. Because these
craters are typically bowl-shaped and have limited drainage, water tends to
accumulate rather than flow away.
4. Sealing the Crater: In some cases, volcanic activity can seal the crater with solidified
lava, ash, or debris, which prevents the water from draining out. This process helps
retain the water in the crater, contributing to the formation of a lake.
5. Development of a Lake: As more water accumulates, a lake forms. The depth and
size of the crater lake depend on the size of the crater and the amount of water it
receives.
6. Stabilization: Over time, the water levels in the crater lake may stabilize as the rate of
water input (from precipitation and groundwater) equals the rate of water loss
(through evaporation, seepage, or overflow).

2) Why are people living in the Himalayas more prone to earthquakes?

People living in the Himalayas are more vulnerable to earthquakes due to several
geographical reasons:

1. Tectonic Plate Boundaries: The Himalayas are located at the convergent boundary
between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. The Indian Plate is moving
northward, colliding with the Eurasian Plate, which creates immense pressure and
stress along the fault lines. This tectonic activity is the primary cause of earthquakes
in the region. The continuous collision and compression result in frequent seismic
activity, making the region highly earthquake-prone.

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 Geography Unit Test 1 Revision – Chps. 1 & 2

3) What are L-waves?

L-waves, or Love waves, are a type of surface seismic wave that travels along the
Earth's surface. They are named after the British mathematician A.E.H. Love, who
first described them mathematically. L-waves are one of two main types of surface
waves, the other being Rayleigh waves.

1. Surface Waves: Unlike P-waves (primary waves) and S-waves (secondary waves),
which travel through the Earth's interior, L-waves are confined to the Earth's surface
and the upper layers of the crust.
2. Horizontal Motion: L-waves cause horizontal shearing of the ground. They move the
ground from side to side, perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, which
often results in significant damage to structures during an earthquake.
3. Speed: L-waves generally travel slower than P-waves and S-waves but can be more
destructive due to their larger amplitude and longer duration at the surface.

4) L-waves do not have any shadow zones. Explain why.

Surface Confinement: L-waves are confined to the Earth's surface and do not travel
through the Earth's interior layers (mantle, outer core, and inner core). Shadow zones
are regions on the Earth's surface where certain seismic waves are not detected
because of their interaction with the Earth's interior (like refraction or absorption).
Since L-waves do not penetrate the Earth’s interior, they are not affected by the
different materials and densities that create shadow zones for P-waves and S-waves.

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5) Why do soft rocks form folds and hard rocks form faults?

 Soft Rocks (Ductile Rocks):

 Soft rocks, such as shale, limestone, and some types of sedimentary rocks, are
considered more ductile. Ductile materials can deform plastically without breaking,
especially when subjected to compressional stress.
 When stress is applied to soft rocks over a long period, and they are buried deep
enough where temperatures and pressures are higher, they tend to bend and fold
rather than fracture. This bending occurs because the minerals in these rocks can flow
and change shape without losing their cohesion.

 Hard Rocks (Brittle Rocks):

 Hard rocks, such as granite, basalt, and many metamorphic rocks, are generally more
brittle and tend to break rather than bend when subjected to stress.
 When stress is applied to hard rocks, particularly at shallower depths where
temperatures and pressures are lower, they are more likely to undergo brittle
deformation. Instead of folding, these rocks fracture, creating faults. Brittle
deformation occurs because the mineral bonds in hard rocks are rigid and break easily
under stress.

6) Explain why folds depend on the strength of rocks and intensity of forces.

The strength of rocks, which includes both their ductility (ability to deform without
breaking) and competence (resistance to deformation), plays a crucial role in fold
formation:

 Ductile (Soft) Rocks: Rocks that are more ductile, such as shale, limestone, and
claystone, have a greater ability to bend and deform without fracturing. These rocks
tend to form smooth, gentle folds because they can accommodate stress by flowing or
bending.

 Brittle (Hard) Rocks: Rocks that are harder and more brittle, like granite, sandstone,
or quartzite, resist deformation more than ductile rocks. These rocks are more likely
to fracture when subjected to stress.

 Low-Intensity Forces: When compressional forces are relatively mild and applied
slowly over a long period, rocks, especially ductile ones, tend to form gentle, broad
folds. Low-intensity forces allow the rock layers to adjust gradually, bending
smoothly without causing much internal fracturing.

 High-Intensity Forces: When compressional forces are intense, they create more
dramatic and tightly folded structures. If these forces are applied rapidly or in a short
period, even ductile rocks may experience more significant deformation, resulting in
tighter, sharper folds. High-intensity forces can also cause overthrust folds, where
rock layers are pushed over each other, and recumbent folds, where the fold axis is
nearly horizontal.

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7) Explain the different types of faults.

Normal faults occur when the crust is being pulled apart due to tensional forces. In a
normal fault, the rock above the fault plane (the hanging wall) moves downward
relative to the rock below the fault plane (the footwall).

Reverse faults occur when the crust is being compressed due to compressional
forces. In a reverse fault, the rock above the fault plane (the hanging wall) moves
upward relative to the rock below the fault plane (the footwall).

Thrust faults are a type of reverse fault with a much lower angle of dip, usually less
than 30 degrees. Thrust faults result from compressional forces, but because of their
low angle, they can transport rocks over great distances.

Tear faults, also known as strike-slip faults, occur due to shear forces that cause
blocks of rock to slide past each other horizontally. Unlike normal or reverse faults,
strike-slip faults involve lateral (side-to-side) movement rather than vertical
displacement.

8) Complete the chain

Widespread volcanic Fissure eruption Deccan trap

eruption
Andaman and Nicobar Zone V Very high seismic
islands vulnerability
Mercalli scale Intensity I to XII
Slow movements Faulting Block mountain
Philippines Circum- Pacific belt Mayon
Volcanic material Volcanic bombs Solid

9) Explain the different types of faults

A) Normal fault: It results when a portion of land slides down along the fault plane
and when the exposed portion of the plane faces the sky.

B) Reverse fault: It results when a portion of the land is thrown upward relative to the
other side of the land. In such a situation, the fault plane faces the ground.

C) Tear fault: Sometimes, the rock strata on either side of the fault plane do not have
vertical displacement. Instead, movement occurs along the plane in a horizontal
direction.

D) Thrust fault: When the portion of the land on one side of the fault plane gets
detached and moves over land on the other side. The angle of the fault plane is
generally low- less than 45°.

10) Explain the different types of landforms formed by volcanic eruptions.

Lava domes are formed when magma comes out of the volcano and gets solidified
around the volcano’s mouth.

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Lava plateaus are formed due to the spread of lava in huge quantities from fissure
volcanoes.

Calderas are formed when the volcanic eruption brings about a large quantity of
material and relieves a lot of pressure, forming a deep depression (caldera), which
may later turn into lakes.

Crater lakes are formed when the depression of an extinct volcano is filled with
rainwater.

11) Name the materials that come out of a volcano.

There are liquid, solid and gaseous materials that come out of volcanoes.
Liquid materials include acidic lava (which contains higher quantity of silica) and
basic lava (containing lower quantity of silica).
Solid materials include rock fragments and dust particles.
Gaseous materials include dark clouds of smoke during the time of eruption. Some
gases are flammable, which produce flames.

The text explores Earth’s movements, detailing both slow and sudden processes that
shape landforms. Slow movements, such as epeirogenic and orogenic movements,
occur due to internal forces and can lead to the formation of mountains and plateaus
over time.

Sudden movements, like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, have immediate effects
on the Earth’s surface. The document presents various types of faults and folds
created by these movements, along with evidence of past events, such as the 2004
tsunami and the Krakatoa eruption. Additionally, it discusses the classification of
earthquakes and volcanoes, and the significance of seismic zones.

Earth movements are categorized into slow (tectonic) and sudden processes
(earthquakes and volcanoes).

Slow movements shape the Earth’s surface over long periods, leading to the formation
of features like mountains and plateaus.

Sudden movements can cause immediate and severe changes, such as land subsidence
during an earthquake.

The study of folds and faults helps us understand the geological processes behind
landforms.

The distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes is concentrated in specific zones, such

as the “Ring of Fire.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions?

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 Geography Unit Test 1 Revision – Chps. 1 & 2

Earthquakes are primarily caused by the release of stress in the Earth’s crust due to
tectonic movements, while volcanic eruptions occur when magma from the mantle
rises to the surface.

How do slow movements differ from sudden movements?

Slow movements occur gradually over time, leading to large-scale geological

changes, while sudden movements happen quickly, resulting in immediate effects
such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

What are the different types of faults and their characteristics?

Faults can be classified into normal faults, reverse faults, tear faults, and thrust faults,
each defined by the direction of rock displacement along the fault plane.

How are earthquakes measured and classified?

Earthquakes are measured using the Richter scale for magnitude and the Mercalli
scale for intensity, assessing the energy released and the damage caused, respectively.