Science Olympiad Dynamic Planet Practice Test

Which term refers to a major belt of volcanoes that rims the Pacific Ocean?

1. Mid-Atlantic Ridge

2. Ring of Fire

3. Hawaiian Islands

4. Atlantic Seafloor

The correct answer is: Ring of Fire

The term that refers to the major belt of volcanoes that rims the Pacific Ocean is known as the Ring of Fire. This geological feature is characterized by a horseshoe shape and is associated with a high level of tectonic activity, including a majority of the world's earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It is formed by the movement of tectonic plates and the subduction of oceanic plates beneath continental plates, leading to the creation of numerous volcanoes along the boundary of the Pacific Ocean. In contrast, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a divergent plate boundary located in the Atlantic Ocean, where new oceanic crust is formed. The Hawaiian Islands, while an important group of volcanic islands, are just a part of the larger Ring of Fire and are not a major belt in themselves. The Atlantic Seafloor refers to the ocean floor of the Atlantic Ocean, which does not exhibit the same volcanic activity as the Ring of Fire. Thus, the Ring of Fire is the correct term that encapsulates the significance of this volcanic belt around the Pacific Ocean.