Question

Which of the following statements accurately describe the Earth's lithosphere?

I. The lithosphere is broken into pieces called tectonic plates.
II. New oceanic lithosphere is created at the mid-ocean ridges.
III. Geologic phenomena, such as earthquakes and volcanoes, are caused by movement of the lithosphere.

Answer 1

All of the statements accurately describe the Earth's lithosphere:

I. The lithosphere is broken into pieces called tectonic plates.
This is true. The lithosphere is composed of the Earth's crust and the uppermost part of the mantle, and it is broken into several large pieces called tectonic plates that move slowly over the Earth's surface.

II. New oceanic lithosphere is created at the mid-ocean ridges.
This is also true. At the mid-ocean ridges, magma rises from the Earth's mantle and solidifies to form new oceanic lithosphere. As the lithosphere spreads away from the ridges, it carries the continents along with it.

III. Geologic phenomena, such as earthquakes and volcanoes, are caused by movement of the lithosphere.
This is also true. The movement of the tectonic plates causes stress and deformation in the Earth's crust, which can lead to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. For example, earthquakes often occur along the boundaries between tectonic plates where the plates are either moving apart, moving together, or sliding past each other.