Best Plate tectonics trivia quiz questions

Learn about the fascinating science of plate tectonics and its effects on our planet.

What is the name of the process by which rocks are heated and melted to form magma?
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Melting
What is the name of the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges?
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Seafloor spreading
What is the name of the process by which two continental plates collide and push up against each other, forming mountains?
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Continental collision
What is the name of the process by which sediment is deposited in a new location?
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Sedimentation
What is the name of the process by which any type of rock is broken down into smaller pieces?
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Rock fragmentation
Which type of rock is formed from the accumulation of sediment?
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Sedimentary rock
Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move towards each other and one is forced beneath the other?
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Convergent boundary
What is the process by which oceanic crust sinks beneath a deep-ocean trench and back into the mantle?
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Subduction
What is the name of the process by which magma rises to the surface and solidifies, creating new crust?
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Volcanism
What is the name of the process by which existing rock is changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions?
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Metamorphism
Which scientist first proposed the theory of continental drift in 1912?
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Alfred Wegener
Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of mid-ocean ridges?
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Divergent
What is the name of the process by which magma cools and solidifies to form igneous rock?
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Solidification
What is the name of the boundary between Earth's crust and mantle?
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Mohorovičić discontinuity
What is the name of the process by which a volcano violently expels its contents?
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Explosion
What is the name of the theory that describes the large-scale movement of Earth's lithosphere?
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Plate tectonics
What is the name of the dense, iron-rich layer at the center of Earth?
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Core
What is the name of the supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras?
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Pangaea
Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move away from each other?
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Divergent boundary
What term describes the process by which new oceanic lithosphere forms as magma rises to the surface and solidifies?
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Seafloor spreading
Which type of rock is formed from cooled magma or lava?
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Igneous rock
Which type of fault is associated with horizontal shear?
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Strike-slip fault
What is the name of the process by which denser oceanic crust is forced under lighter continental crust?
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Subduction
What is the name of the layer of the Earth that lies beneath the mantle and consists primarily of iron and nickel?
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Core
What is the name of the supercontinent that existed about 1.1 billion years ago?
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Rodinia
What is the name of the theory that explains how the Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move around on top of the asthenosphere?
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Plate tectonics
Which type of rock is formed from the alteration of existing rock due to heat and pressure?
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Metamorphic rock
What is the name of the supercontinent that existed about 300 million years ago?
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Pangaea
What is the driving force behind plate tectonics?
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Mantle convection
Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move past each other horizontally?
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Transform boundary
What is the name of the boundary where two plates are sliding past each other?
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Transform boundary
What is the name of the process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces?
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Weathering
What is the name of the process by which rock is deformed due to stress?
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Rock deformation
What is the name of the rigid outer layer of Earth that includes the crust and upper mantle?
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Lithosphere
What is the name of the process by which rocks are deposited in a new location?
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Deposition
What is the name of the process by which magma is ejected onto the Earth's surface?
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Extrusion
What is the name of the phenomenon where one tectonic plate slides beneath another?
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Subduction
Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of mountain ranges?
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Continental-continental convergent
Which type of rock is formed from existing rock that has been changed by heat and pressure?
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Metamorphic rock
Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates slide past each other horizontally?
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Transform
What is the name of the process by which sedimentary rock is transformed into metamorphic rock?
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Metamorphism
What is the name of the partially molten layer of Earth's mantle located below the lithosphere?
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Asthenosphere
What is the name of the boundary where two plates are moving apart?
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Divergent boundary
Which type of rock is formed from the accumulation of organic material?
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Organic rock
Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move away from each other and new crust is formed?
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Divergent boundary
What is the name of the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind and water?
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Erosion
Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of volcanic mountain chains along continental margins?
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Oceanic-continental convergent
Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates collide and one plate sinks beneath the other?
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Convergent boundary
What is the name of the geological feature where two tectonic plates meet?
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Plate boundary
What is the process by which oceanic crust sinks beneath a continental plate?
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Subduction
What is the name of the process by which rocks are moved from one place to another?
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Erosion
Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates slide past each other horizontally?
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Transform boundary
What is the name of the process by which volcanic material is ejected from a volcano?
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Eruption
Which layer of Earth's interior is composed primarily of solid iron and nickel?
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Inner core
Which tectonic plate is the smallest?
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Juan de Fuca Plate
What is the name of the underwater mountain range that runs through the Atlantic Ocean and marks the boundary between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate?
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Mid-Atlantic Ridge
What is the name of the boundary where two plates are colliding and pushing up mountains?
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Convergent boundary
What is the name of the boundary where two plates are moving apart and new crust is forming?
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Divergent boundary
What is the name of the process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces by physical or chemical means?
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Weathering
Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of deep-sea trenches?
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Convergent
What is the name of the boundary where two plates are colliding and one is forced beneath the other?
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Subduction zone
What is the name of the type of rock that forms from the accumulation and cementation of sediment?
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Sedimentary rock
What is the name of the region around the Pacific Ocean characterized by frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity?
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Ring of Fire
What is the name of the type of rock that forms from the cooling and solidification of lava or magma?
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Igneous rock
Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of rift valleys?
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Divergent
What is the name of the process by which continents move across the surface of the Earth?
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Continental drift
What is the name of the process by which rock layers are bent or curved due to stress?
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Rock folding
Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move apart from each other?
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Divergent boundary
What is the name of the layer of the Earth that lies between the crust and the core?
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Mantle
What is the name of the process by which oceanic crust sinks back into the mantle at subduction zones?
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Subduction
What is the name of the type of rock that contains fossils?
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Fossiliferous rock
Which layer of the Earth is responsible for generating the magnetic field?
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Outer core
What is the name of the type of rock that forms from the alteration of existing rock by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions?
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Metamorphic rock
What is the name of the theory that explains how continents move and interact with each other?
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Plate tectonics
Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of volcanic island arcs?
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Oceanic-oceanic convergent
What is the name of the layer of the Earth that consists of solid rock and includes both the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle?
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Lithosphere
What is the name of the scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes?
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Richter scale
Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates collide and push up mountains?
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Convergent boundary
Which tectonic plate is the largest?
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Pacific Plate
Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates collide and one is forced beneath the other?
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Convergent boundary
Which type of fault is associated with horizontal compression?
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Reverse fault
What is the name of the process by which sediments are compacted and cemented together to form rock?
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Lithification
Which type of rock is formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava?
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Igneous rock
What is the name of the process by which rock is melted due to high temperature and pressure?
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Rock melting
Which type of fault is associated with horizontal extension?
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Normal fault
Which type of rock is formed by the solidification of molten magma?
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Igneous
Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates grind past each other without destroying or creating lithosphere?
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Transform boundary
What is the name of the process by which magma is forced into cracks and solidifies underground?
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Intrusion
Which type of rock is formed from the remains of plants and animals?
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Fossiliferous rock

Best Plate tectonics trivia quiz questions

What is the name of the process by which rocks are heated and melted to form magma?

What is the name of the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges?

What is the name of the process by which two continental plates collide and push up against each other, forming mountains?

What is the name of the process by which sediment is deposited in a new location?

What is the name of the process by which any type of rock is broken down into smaller pieces?

Which type of rock is formed from the accumulation of sediment?

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move towards each other and one is forced beneath the other?

What is the process by which oceanic crust sinks beneath a deep-ocean trench and back into the mantle?

What is the name of the process by which magma rises to the surface and solidifies, creating new crust?

What is the name of the process by which existing rock is changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions?

Which scientist first proposed the theory of continental drift in 1912?

Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of mid-ocean ridges?

What is the name of the process by which magma cools and solidifies to form igneous rock?

What is the name of the boundary between Earth's crust and mantle?

What is the name of the process by which a volcano violently expels its contents?

What is the name of the theory that describes the large-scale movement of Earth's lithosphere?

What is the name of the dense, iron-rich layer at the center of Earth?

What is the name of the supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras?

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move away from each other?

What term describes the process by which new oceanic lithosphere forms as magma rises to the surface and solidifies?

Which type of rock is formed from cooled magma or lava?

Which type of fault is associated with horizontal shear?

What is the name of the process by which denser oceanic crust is forced under lighter continental crust?

What is the name of the layer of the Earth that lies beneath the mantle and consists primarily of iron and nickel?

What is the name of the supercontinent that existed about 1.1 billion years ago?

What is the name of the theory that explains how the Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move around on top of the asthenosphere?

Which type of rock is formed from the alteration of existing rock due to heat and pressure?

What is the name of the supercontinent that existed about 300 million years ago?

What is the driving force behind plate tectonics?

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move past each other horizontally?

What is the name of the boundary where two plates are sliding past each other?

What is the name of the process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces?

What is the name of the process by which rock is deformed due to stress?

What is the name of the rigid outer layer of Earth that includes the crust and upper mantle?

What is the name of the process by which rocks are deposited in a new location?

What is the name of the process by which magma is ejected onto the Earth's surface?

What is the name of the phenomenon where one tectonic plate slides beneath another?

Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of mountain ranges?

Which type of rock is formed from existing rock that has been changed by heat and pressure?

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates slide past each other horizontally?

What is the name of the process by which sedimentary rock is transformed into metamorphic rock?

What is the name of the partially molten layer of Earth's mantle located below the lithosphere?

What is the name of the boundary where two plates are moving apart?

Which type of rock is formed from the accumulation of organic material?

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move away from each other and new crust is formed?

What is the name of the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind and water?

Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of volcanic mountain chains along continental margins?

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates collide and one plate sinks beneath the other?

What is the name of the geological feature where two tectonic plates meet?

What is the process by which oceanic crust sinks beneath a continental plate?

What is the name of the process by which rocks are moved from one place to another?

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates slide past each other horizontally?

What is the name of the process by which volcanic material is ejected from a volcano?

Which layer of Earth's interior is composed primarily of solid iron and nickel?

Which tectonic plate is the smallest?

What is the name of the underwater mountain range that runs through the Atlantic Ocean and marks the boundary between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate?

What is the name of the boundary where two plates are colliding and pushing up mountains?

What is the name of the boundary where two plates are moving apart and new crust is forming?

What is the name of the process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces by physical or chemical means?

Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of deep-sea trenches?

What is the name of the boundary where two plates are colliding and one is forced beneath the other?

What is the name of the type of rock that forms from the accumulation and cementation of sediment?

What is the name of the region around the Pacific Ocean characterized by frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity?

What is the name of the type of rock that forms from the cooling and solidification of lava or magma?

Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of rift valleys?

What is the name of the process by which continents move across the surface of the Earth?

What is the name of the process by which rock layers are bent or curved due to stress?

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move apart from each other?

What is the name of the layer of the Earth that lies between the crust and the core?

What is the name of the process by which oceanic crust sinks back into the mantle at subduction zones?

What is the name of the type of rock that contains fossils?

Which layer of the Earth is responsible for generating the magnetic field?

What is the name of the type of rock that forms from the alteration of existing rock by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions?

What is the name of the theory that explains how continents move and interact with each other?

Which type of plate boundary is associated with the formation of volcanic island arcs?

What is the name of the layer of the Earth that consists of solid rock and includes both the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle?

What is the name of the scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes?

Which type of plate boundary occurs when two plates collide and push up mountains?

Which tectonic plate is the largest?