Plate Boundary Worksheet - Free Printable

Problem Overview:

The worksheet focuses on understanding plate boundaries and their associated geological features. The task involves matching statements to parts of a diagram and completing a concept map using provided terms.

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Part 1: Matching Statements to the Diagram

#### Diagram Analysis:
The diagram shows different regions of the seafloor, labeled as A, B, C, and D. These regions correspond to specific geological processes related to plate tectonics.

- A: This region appears to be a deep-sea trench, where one plate is subducting beneath another.
- B: This region shows a mid-ocean ridge, where new seafloor is being created as molten rock rises and cools.
- C: This region represents the seafloor spreading away from the mid-ocean ridge.
- D: This region shows the older, denser seafloor that has moved away from the ridge.

#### Matching Statements:
1. Molten rock flows onto the seafloor and hardens as it cools.
- This occurs at the mid-ocean ridge (region B).
- Match: B

2. Hot, molten rock is forced upward toward the seafloor at a mid-ocean ridge.
- This describes the upwelling of magma at the mid-ocean ridge (region B).
- Match: B

3. New seafloor moves away from the ridge, cools, becomes denser, and sinks.
- This describes the process of seafloor spreading and cooling (region C and D).
- Match: C or D (either works)

4. Molten rock pushes sideways in both directions as it rises, moving the mantle with it.
- This describes the lateral movement of the mantle and seafloor spreading (region C).
- Match: C

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Part 2: Completing the Concept Map

#### Concept Map Analysis:
The concept map categorizes plate boundaries into three types: convergent, divergent, and transform. Each type of boundary leads to specific geological features.

#### Key Terms:
- Mid-ocean ridges: Formed at divergent boundaries.
- Volcanic islands: Formed at convergent boundaries due to subduction.
- Deep-sea trenches: Formed at convergent boundaries due to subduction.
- Major earthquakes: Occur at convergent and transform boundaries.
- Volcanic mountains: Formed at convergent boundaries.
- Rift valleys: Formed at divergent boundaries.

#### Filling in the Concept Map:

1. Convergent Boundaries:
- Form: Deep-sea trenches (due to subduction).
- Cause: Major earthquakes (due to friction and stress at the boundary).
- Result: Volcanic islands and volcanic mountains (due to melting and magma rising).

2. Divergent Boundaries:
- Form: Mid-ocean ridges (where new crust is formed).
- Result: Rift valleys (formed by the pulling apart of plates).

3. Transform Boundaries:
- Cause: Major earthquakes (due to the sliding motion of plates).

#### Completed Concept Map:
```
Plate boundaries
include
convergent
form
deep-sea trenches
cause
major earthquakes
and
volcanic islands
volcanic mountains
divergent
form
mid-ocean ridges
and
rift valleys
transform
cause
major earthquakes
```

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Final Answer:

1. Matching Statements:
- 1 → B
- 2 → B
- 3 → C or D
- 4 → C

2. Concept Map:
- 5: deep-sea trenches
- 6: mid-ocean ridges
- 7: major earthquakes
- 8: volcanic islands
- 9: volcanic mountains
- 10: rift valleys

Boxed Final Answer:
\[
\boxed{
\text{1. B, 2. B, 3. C or D, 4. C; 5. deep-sea trenches, 6. mid-ocean ridges, 7. major earthquakes, 8. volcanic islands, 9. volcanic mountains, 10. rift valleys}
}
\]