APES SOIL + PLATE TECTONICS QUIZ

Earth’s Structure – The internal organization of Earth into layers based on composition and physical properties

Core – Densest Earth layer made of iron, nickel, and radioactive elements that generate heat

Mantle – Thick layer of dense, mafic rock with high metal content and lower silica

Crust – Thin outermost Earth layer; oceanic crust is mafic and continental crust is felsic

Inner Core – Solid portion of Earth’s core composed mainly of iron and nickel

Outer Core – Liquid portion of the core that generates Earth’s magnetic field

Mesosphere – Solid lower mantle beneath the asthenosphere

Asthenosphere – Semi

molten, plastic

Lithosphere – Rigid outer Earth layer made of crust and upper mantle; divided into tectonic plates

Tectonic Plate – Large piece of lithosphere that moves over the asthenosphere

Plate Tectonics – Theory explaining movement of lithospheric plates and Earth’s surface changes

Pangaea – Ancient supercontinent where all continents were once joined

Alfred Wegener – Scientist who proposed continental drift in 1912

Seafloor Spreading – Creation of new oceanic crust at divergent boundaries

Convection Currents – Heat

driven circulation in the mantle that moves tectonic plates

Hotspot – Area where magma rises through the mantle independent of plate boundaries

Hotspot Island Chain – Line of volcanic islands formed as a plate moves over a hotspot

Divergent Plate Boundary – Plates move apart; magma rises and forms new crust

Mid Ocean Ridge – Underwater mountain chain formed at divergent boundaries

Rift Valley – Valley formed when continental crust pulls apart

Convergent Plate Boundary – Plates move toward each other, often causing subduction

Subduction – Process where a denser plate sinks beneath a less dense plate

Oceanic–Oceanic Convergence – One oceanic plate subducts forming island arcs and trenches

Island Arc – Curved chain of volcanic islands formed at oceanic–oceanic convergence

Oceanic–Continental Convergence – Oceanic plate subducts beneath continental plate forming volcanoes and mountains

Continental Continental Convergence – Collision of two continental plates forming large mountain ranges

Transform Fault Boundary – Plates slide past each other horizontally

Fault – Fracture in Earth’s crust where movement occurs

Earthquake – Sudden release of energy caused by movement along faults

Epicenter – Point on Earth’s surface directly above an earthquake focus

Richter Scale – Logarithmic scale measuring earthquake magnitude

Volcano – Opening in Earth’s crust that releases lava, ash, and gases

Tsunami – Series of large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanoes

Ring of Fire – Zone of intense volcanic and earthquake activity around the Pacific Ocean

Plate Movement Rate – Average movement of tectonic plates (~3–6 cm per year)

Allopatric Speciation – Formation of new species due to geographic isolation

Rock – Naturally occurring solid composed of minerals

Igneous Rock – Rock formed directly from cooled magma

Basaltic Rock – Dark, iron

rich igneous rock common in oceanic crust

Granitic Rock – Light

colored, silica

Sedimentary Rock – Rock formed from compressed and cemented sediments

Metamorphic Rock – Rock altered by heat and pressure without melting

Rock Cycle – Continuous process of rock formation, breakdown, and transformation

Weathering – Breakdown of rock into smaller pieces

Physical Weathering – Mechanical breakdown of rock without chemical change

Chemical Weathering – Chemical alteration of minerals releasing nutrients

Biological Weathering – Weathering caused by living organisms

Erosion – Transport of weathered material by wind, water, ice, or gravity

Deposition – Process where eroded material is dropped in a new location

Soil – Mixture of mineral particles, organic matter, water, air, and organisms

Parent Material – Original rock from which soil forms

Pioneer Species – First organisms to colonize bare rock and begin soil formation

Soil Formation – Process of soil developing from weathered rock and organic matter

Soil Horizons – Distinct layers of soil formed over time

O Horizon – Surface layer of organic matter and decomposing material

A Horizon – Topsoil rich in humus and biological activity

E Horizon – Zone of leaching where minerals are removed

B Horizon – Subsoil where minerals accumulate

C Horizon – Least

weathered layer closest to parent rock

Humus – Fully decomposed organic matter that improves soil fertility

Sand – Largest soil particle with high permeability

Silt – Medium

sized soil particle

Clay – Smallest soil particle with high water retention

Soil Texture – Percent of sand, silt, and clay in soil

Porosity – Amount of pore space in soil

Permeability – How easily water moves through soil

Water Holding Capacity – Ability of soil to retain water

Loam – Ideal soil texture with balanced sand, silt, and clay

Soil Fertility – Ability of soil to support plant growth

Nutrients – Essential elements for plant growth (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na)

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) – Soil’s ability to hold and exchange nutrient cations

Base Saturation – Proportion of nutrient bases relative to acids in soil

Soil Degradation – Decline in soil’s ability to support plants

Topsoil Erosion – Loss of nutrient

rich surface soil

Compaction – Compression of soil that reduces pore space

Nutrient Depletion – Loss of soil nutrients due to repeated cropping

Dust Bowl – Severe wind erosion event caused by poor farming practices

Biological Soil Activity – Actions of organisms that recycle nutrients and improve soil structure