Name: ________________________________ HG: ____________

YEAR 9 SCIENCE TEST

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DYNAMIC EARTH

SECTION A: MULTIPLE CHOICE [12]

1. The inside of the Earth consists of four major layers. Which is the hottest layer? [1]
a) Mantle
b) Inner Core
c) Outer Core
d) Crust

2. The order of the layers from the inside of the Earth outwards is: [1]
a) inner core, outer core, mantle, crust.
b) outer core, inner core, mantle, crust.
c) inner core, outer core, crust, mantle.
d) mantle, inner core, outer core, crust.

3. The thinnest layer of the Earth is the: [1]

a) Mantle
b) Inner core
c) Outer Core
d) Crust

4. The inside of the Earth consists of four major layers. Movement in which layer causes the
movement of the continents? [1]
a) Mantle
b) Inner core
c) Outer core
d) Crust

5. When an earthquake occurs the shock waves go out in

all directions. These can be detected by seismic
stations. On this map the seismic stations are located at
points A, B and C near a large lake. The waves were
detected at A after 12 minutes, B after 8 minutes and C
after 6 minutes. Where is the epicentre of the
earthquake likely to be? [1]
a) Location 1
b) Location 2
c) Location 3
 d) Location 4
6. An earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale is stronger than one measuring 6.
How much stronger is it? [1]
a) 2 times
b) 4 times
c) 10 times
d) 100 times

7. At a divergent plate boundary [1]

a) Two plates move closer together
b) Two plates move apart from each other
c) When the plates are transformed into another organism millions of years later.
d) When the plates suddenly transform into hard rock

8. At a transform fault plate boundary, the plates: [1]

a) Move past each other in the same direction at different speeds.
b) Move past each other in opposite directions at the same speed
c) Push together
d) Spread apart

9. The fastest moving waves are: [1]

a) S waves
b) P waves
c) L waves
d) All of the above, they move at the same speed

10. The theory of sea-floor spreading supports ideas that [1]

a) the earth is expanding
b) the earth is contracting
c) new crust is being made along oceanic trenches
d) new crust is being made along mid-ocean ridges

11.The Himalayan mountains are thought to have been formed by the collision of [1]
a) two continental plates
b) two oceanic plates
c) an oceanic plate and a continental plate
d) two transform faults

12. The idea that the Earth’s outer core is liquid is best supported by the statement that the [1]
outer core
a) is the source of volcanic material
b) does not transmit S waves
c) is composed of metamorphic rocks
d) transmits S waves faster than P waves
SECTION B: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS [33]
1. The hypothesis suggesting that continents were once joined together and have drifted apart
was first proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1915 and this is now widely accepted as part of the
modern “Plate Tectonic Theory”. Provide two pieces of evidence which support Wegener’s
original hypothesis. [4]

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2. This is a diagram of an active volcano. Write a single word to label each of the parts, using
these choices: crater, lava and ash, crust, magma, vent. [5]

3. Why are volcanoes and earthquakes usually found along or near the plate boundaries? [2]

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4. What is the difference between lava and magma? [2]

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5. Explain the difference between a seismogram and a seismograph. [2]

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6. The volcanic rocks pumice and obsidian have a similar composition but are very different in
appearance. Explain this difference. (Hint: use the coke and froth analogy)
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7. Match up the following words with their definitions using lines. [4]

Focus The break between different areas of rock in

which movement has occurred.

Tsunamis The point on the Earth’s surface directly above the

point underground where the Earthquake
originated from.

Fault Large, often fast moving waves which are

triggered by earthquakes under the ocean or by
underwater landslides.

Epicentre The point underground where the Earthquake

originated from.

8. The diagram below displays the locations of the major earthquakes / volcanoes throughout
the world. Use the theory of plate tectonics to explain why;
(a) Earthquakes and volcanoes are occur in the middle of oceans
[2]
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(b) Earthquakes and volcanoes occur on the west side of South America. [2]
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(c ) Northern India and Pakistan experience earthquakes regularly [2]

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9. An earthquake occurs and the time of arrival of S and P waves is detected by seismograph stations
in three Australian cities. Data was recorded in columns 2 and 3 of the table below
(h: hours, min: minutes, s: seconds): [6]

Use this data and the graph below to calculate the distance of each city from the epicentre,
which you should enter in column 5 of the table above. You will need to work out the difference
in the time of arrival of the P and S waves, which you should enter in column 4 of the table
above.
Difference in
the times of
arrival of P
and S waves
(min)

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

Distance from earthquake (km)