Question

Which of the following statement is correct about plate tectonic movement?

1) The pacific plate is the smallest tectonic plate.

2) Nazca is the largest tectonic plate.

1. Only 1
2. Only 2
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Neither 1 nor 2

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

• The tectonic plate is a theory that describes the motion of several plates of earth's lithosphere.
• The tectonic plates are composed of oceanic lithosphere and thicker continental lithosphere.

 

           Lithosphere - 

• Lithosphere is the rigid outer part of the earth consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
• It is broken up into tectonic plates.
• The relative motion of the plates typically ranges from 0 to 100 mm annually.

 

• The pacific plate is the largest.
• It contains an interior hot spot forming the Hawaiian Island.
• The area of this plate is 103,300,000 km sq.

 

• The Nazca plate is the smallest tectonic plate. It is named after the Nazca region of southern Peru.
• The area of this plate is 15, 600,000 Km sq.
• The speed of this plate is 40 - 53 mm /year.