Advanced Plate Tectonics, Logic, Radioactivity, and Probability: A Comprehensive Analysis
A detailed examination of advanced plate tectonics, radioactivity, and probability theory.
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Advanced Plate Tectonics, Logic, Radioactivity, and Probability: A
Comprehensive Analysis
Show all of your work. Maximum possible points: 50
1. Plate Tectonics (8 pts)
A new chain of islands is discovered, with a high frequency of volcanic activity. Four
hypotheses are proposed to explain the cause of the volcanic activity.
H1: The islands are found on a convergent boundary.
H2: The islands are found on a divergent boundary.
H3: The islands are found on a transform boundary.
H4: The islands are found on a hotspot.
a. (2 pts) Which of the four hypotheses could be ruled out immediately as the
cause of the volcanic activity? Why?
The hypothesis that could be ruled out immediately is H3: The islands are found on a transform
boundary.
Transform boundaries are characterized by plates sliding past each other horizontally. These boundaries
do not typically generate volcanic activity since there is no subduction (where one plate is forced below
another) or magma generation associated with them. The lack of convergence or divergence means that
volcanic activity is unlikely to occur along transform boundaries.
b. (6 pts) For each of the other three hypotheses, find one other piece of physical
evidence (earthquake, elevation, volcanic, age of ocean floor, or other) that
could be used as evidence to support the hypothesis above the remaining
hypotheses. Explain your answers.
• H1: The islands are found on a convergent boundary. Evidence: Earthquake activity and deep
ocean trenches.
o At convergent boundaries, one tectonic plate is forced under another, leading to
subduction zones. These subduction zones generate frequent and sometimes deep
earthquakes. Additionally, the formation of deep ocean trenches is a characteristic
feature of convergent boundaries. These features could be used to support the
hypothesis that the volcanic activity is occurring along a convergent boundary.
Comprehensive Analysis
Show all of your work. Maximum possible points: 50
1. Plate Tectonics (8 pts)
A new chain of islands is discovered, with a high frequency of volcanic activity. Four
hypotheses are proposed to explain the cause of the volcanic activity.
H1: The islands are found on a convergent boundary.
H2: The islands are found on a divergent boundary.
H3: The islands are found on a transform boundary.
H4: The islands are found on a hotspot.
a. (2 pts) Which of the four hypotheses could be ruled out immediately as the
cause of the volcanic activity? Why?
The hypothesis that could be ruled out immediately is H3: The islands are found on a transform
boundary.
Transform boundaries are characterized by plates sliding past each other horizontally. These boundaries
do not typically generate volcanic activity since there is no subduction (where one plate is forced below
another) or magma generation associated with them. The lack of convergence or divergence means that
volcanic activity is unlikely to occur along transform boundaries.
b. (6 pts) For each of the other three hypotheses, find one other piece of physical
evidence (earthquake, elevation, volcanic, age of ocean floor, or other) that
could be used as evidence to support the hypothesis above the remaining
hypotheses. Explain your answers.
• H1: The islands are found on a convergent boundary. Evidence: Earthquake activity and deep
ocean trenches.
o At convergent boundaries, one tectonic plate is forced under another, leading to
subduction zones. These subduction zones generate frequent and sometimes deep
earthquakes. Additionally, the formation of deep ocean trenches is a characteristic
feature of convergent boundaries. These features could be used to support the
hypothesis that the volcanic activity is occurring along a convergent boundary.
• H2: The islands are found on a divergent boundary. Evidence: Age of the ocean floor and the
presence of a mid-ocean ridge.
o Divergent boundaries are typically associated with mid-ocean ridges, where two
tectonic plates move apart, creating new oceanic crust. The age of the ocean floor can
be used to determine if the islands are located near a divergent boundary, as the further
away from the ridge, the older the oceanic crust. Newer oceanic crust near the ridge
would support the hypothesis of volcanic activity occurring along a divergent boundary.
• H4: The islands are found on a hotspot. Evidence: Volcanic activity and the age of the islands.
o Hotspots are locations where hot mantle plumes rise from deep within the Earth and
cause volcanic activity on the surface, even in the middle of tectonic plates. A key piece
of evidence for a hotspot is a chain of volcanic islands where the volcanoes decrease in
age as you move away from the current active hotspot location. This is seen in hotspots
like the Hawaiian Islands, where older islands are found further from the hotspot and
newer islands are located closer to it.
2. Logic, Plate Tectonics and Radioactivity (22 pts)
Are the following statements true or false? If it is true, explain. If it is false, provide a
counterexample (i.e. a specific example which shows the statement to be false). This
question may involve research beyond the course notes.
a. If a boundary has deep earthquakes, then it is a convergent boundary.
False.
• Deep earthquakes occur in subduction zones, which are typically found at convergent
boundaries. However, deep earthquakes can also occur in other tectonic settings, such as in the
case of transform faults that cause stress in the Earth's crust at greater depths.
• Example: The Japan Trench is a subduction zone with deep earthquakes, supporting this as an
example of a convergent boundary. However, earthquakes also occur along mid-ocean ridges in
divergent boundaries at greater depths.
b. If a boundary is convergent, then it has deep earthquakes.
True.
• Convergent boundaries, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another (subduction),
commonly experience deep earthquakes due to the interaction between the plates and the
resulting strain at these depths.
presence of a mid-ocean ridge.
o Divergent boundaries are typically associated with mid-ocean ridges, where two
tectonic plates move apart, creating new oceanic crust. The age of the ocean floor can
be used to determine if the islands are located near a divergent boundary, as the further
away from the ridge, the older the oceanic crust. Newer oceanic crust near the ridge
would support the hypothesis of volcanic activity occurring along a divergent boundary.
• H4: The islands are found on a hotspot. Evidence: Volcanic activity and the age of the islands.
o Hotspots are locations where hot mantle plumes rise from deep within the Earth and
cause volcanic activity on the surface, even in the middle of tectonic plates. A key piece
of evidence for a hotspot is a chain of volcanic islands where the volcanoes decrease in
age as you move away from the current active hotspot location. This is seen in hotspots
like the Hawaiian Islands, where older islands are found further from the hotspot and
newer islands are located closer to it.
2. Logic, Plate Tectonics and Radioactivity (22 pts)
Are the following statements true or false? If it is true, explain. If it is false, provide a
counterexample (i.e. a specific example which shows the statement to be false). This
question may involve research beyond the course notes.
a. If a boundary has deep earthquakes, then it is a convergent boundary.
False.
• Deep earthquakes occur in subduction zones, which are typically found at convergent
boundaries. However, deep earthquakes can also occur in other tectonic settings, such as in the
case of transform faults that cause stress in the Earth's crust at greater depths.
• Example: The Japan Trench is a subduction zone with deep earthquakes, supporting this as an
example of a convergent boundary. However, earthquakes also occur along mid-ocean ridges in
divergent boundaries at greater depths.
b. If a boundary is convergent, then it has deep earthquakes.
True.
• Convergent boundaries, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another (subduction),
commonly experience deep earthquakes due to the interaction between the plates and the
resulting strain at these depths.
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