KS3 earthquakes and volcanoes - includes active mount etna

Geography Quiz - Earthquakes and Volcanoes 03 (Questions)

Plate boundaries are restless zones where the Earth's crust moves, melts and erupts. This KS3 Geography quiz explores earthquakes, volcanoes and dramatic plate collisions.

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Fascinating Fact:

Where one plate is forced down under another, it melts and the molten rock can rise to the surface to create explosive volcanic eruptions.

In KS3 Geography, you study how tectonic plates move and interact. At some boundaries one plate is pushed beneath another, creating powerful earthquakes, chains of volcanoes and deep ocean trenches.

Key Terms

Tectonic plate: A large, rigid slab of the Earth's crust that slowly moves over the mantle.
Subduction zone: A plate boundary where one tectonic plate is forced down beneath another plate.
Magma: Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface that can rise to feed volcanic eruptions.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What happens when one tectonic plate is forced under another?

When one plate is forced under another, it enters the mantle, begins to melt and can generate magma. This process can also trigger strong earthquakes along the plate boundary.

How do subduction zones cause volcanoes and earthquakes?

At subduction zones, plates grind together, causing earthquakes. As the descending plate melts, magma rises through cracks in the crust, forming volcanoes that may erupt explosively.

Where are subduction zones found in the world?

Subduction zones are common around the Pacific Ocean, including the west coasts of the Americas and areas near Japan and Indonesia, forming part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Try These Related Quizzes

Earthquakes on the seabed can cause what?

[ ]	Origamis
[ ]	Toonarmies
[ ]	Tsunamis
[ ]	Typhoons

The volcano that erupted in Washington state in 1980 was Mount what?

[ ]	St Helens
[ ]	St James
[ ]	St Neots
[ ]	St Swithins

What word describes the plates of the earth's crust?

[ ]	Platonic
[ ]	Subsonic
[ ]	Technotronic
[ ]	Tectonic

Where the edges of plates meet is called what?

[ ]	Plate boundary
[ ]	Plate border
[ ]	Plate junction
[ ]	Plate seam

Which volcanoes are formed from runny lava and have gently sloping sides?

[ ]	Ash volcanoes
[ ]	Composite volcanoes
[ ]	Dome volcanoes
[ ]	Shield volcanoes

Volcanoes that have erupted recently are called what?

[ ]	Active
[ ]	Alert
[ ]	Effervescent
[ ]	Vibrant

Which is not a type of plate boundary?

[ ]	Conservative
[ ]	Constructive
[ ]	Destructive
[ ]	Distinctive

An earthquake sends out what type of waves?

[ ]	Ascorbic
[ ]	Pelagic
[ ]	Seismic
[ ]	Semitic

What kind of volcanic 'flow' includes hot gas, ash and lava?

[ ]	Hypocaustic
[ ]	Panasonic
[ ]	Pyroclastic
[ ]	Pyrotechnic

10.

What is the underground point where an earthquake starts?

[ ]	Focus
[ ]	Genesis
[ ]	Hub
[ ]	Origin

Geography Quiz - Earthquakes and Volcanoes 03 (Answers)

Earthquakes on the seabed can cause what?

[ ]	Origamis
[ ]	Toonarmies
[x]	Tsunamis
[ ]	Typhoons

They are huge tidal waves - tsunami means 'harbour wave' in Japanese

The volcano that erupted in Washington state in 1980 was Mount what?

[x]	St Helens
[ ]	St James
[ ]	St Neots
[ ]	St Swithins

It was a huge eruption - the mountain literally blew its top. After the eruption had stopped, the mountain was 400 m lower and had a crater at the top that was 2 - 3 km wide and about 700 m deep

What word describes the plates of the earth's crust?

[ ]	Platonic
[ ]	Subsonic
[ ]	Technotronic
[x]	Tectonic

Movement of plates causes 'quakes and eruptions

Where the edges of plates meet is called what?

[x]	Plate boundary
[ ]	Plate border
[ ]	Plate junction
[ ]	Plate seam

Also known as a plate margin

Which volcanoes are formed from runny lava and have gently sloping sides?

[ ]	Ash volcanoes
[ ]	Composite volcanoes
[ ]	Dome volcanoes
[x]	Shield volcanoes

Mauna Loa in Hawaii is an excellent example

Volcanoes that have erupted recently are called what?

[x]	Active
[ ]	Alert
[ ]	Effervescent
[ ]	Vibrant

The closest active volcanoes to the UK are in Italy and in Iceland

Which is not a type of plate boundary?

[ ]	Conservative
[ ]	Constructive
[ ]	Destructive
[x]	Distinctive

You don't usually get volcanoes at conservative plate boundaries

An earthquake sends out what type of waves?

[ ]	Ascorbic
[ ]	Pelagic
[x]	Seismic
[ ]	Semitic

Seismic is Greek for 'shake'