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AP Biology

Dec 11, 2025

170

5 pages

Earth Science Basics: Plate Tectonics and Evolution

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Katelyn @rosieanox

Ever wondered why mountains form or how life on Earth became so diverse? This study guide explores the... Show more

Changes to the Earth and their Influence on Natural Components
Convergent Plate Boundary
Continental into continental
Earthquakes are common

Plate Boundaries and Mountain Formation

When Earth's plates collide at convergent boundaries, dramatic landforms emerge. When continental plates smash into each other, massive mountain ranges form without volcanoes. This happens because both plates are made of lightweight granite and neither sinks beneath the other—they just crumple upward!

The ocean floor tells a different story. When oceanic plates converge, the older, denser plate sinks (subducts) beneath the other into the mantle. This creates deep-sea trenches where the plate bends downward. As the sinking plate descends, it melts, creating magma that rises to form dramatic volcanic island chains over millions of years.

💡 Think of plate boundaries like a traffic system—some plates crash head-on (convergent), some pull apart (divergent), and others slide past each other (transform). Each type creates unique landforms!

The interaction between oceanic and continental plates is particularly dramatic. The denser oceanic plate always subducts beneath the lighter continental one, creating both deep-sea trenches and volcanic mountain ranges along the continental edge.

Changes to the Earth and their Influence on Natural Components
Convergent Plate Boundary
Continental into continental
Earthquakes are common

More Plate Movements and The Rock Cycle

At divergent boundaries between oceanic plates, something amazing happens—the seafloor literally splits open! Magma rises from below, creating new crust that pushes the plates apart and forms underwater mountain ridges. This process constantly creates new seafloor.

Transform boundaries work differently—plates slide horizontally past each other, either in opposite directions or at different speeds. When they suddenly slip, energy releases as earthquakes. Unlike other boundaries, transform boundaries neither create nor destroy Earth's crust—they're like a geological tug-of-war between equally matched forces.

The constant movement of Earth's crust drives the rock cycle, where rocks transform between metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary types. Weathering (the breakdown of rocks by wind, water, and organisms) and erosion (the transport of these materials) are crucial processes that reshape the landscape.

🌊 Did you know? Sinkholes form when underground erosion creates empty spaces that can no longer support the surface above. The ground literally collapses into these hidden caverns!

Changes to the Earth and their Influence on Natural Components
Convergent Plate Boundary
Continental into continental
Earthquakes are common

Evolution The Great Transformer

Evolution is the incredible process that turned simple life forms into the amazing diversity of creatures we see today. It works through changes in genes over time, primarily through genetic mutations. Contrary to popular belief, evolution doesn't explain how life began—it explains how life changed after it started.

Charles Darwin developed the Theory of Natural Selection after his famous five-year expedition around the world. While collecting specimens in places like the Galapagos Islands, he was struck by the tremendous diversity of organisms and began questioning how life could be so different across the planet.

Fossil evidence provides powerful support for evolution. These preserved remains of ancient organisms show us what lived in the past and how species changed. Using the law of superposition (deeper fossils are older) and radiometric dating measuringdecayofCarbon14measuring decay of Carbon-14, scientists can determine exactly how old fossils are.

🦖 Evolution is called a "theory," but don't be confused! In science, theories aren't just guesses—they're comprehensive explanations backed by mountains of evidence. Scientists use the term because they always remain open to new discoveries.

Changes to the Earth and their Influence on Natural Components
Convergent Plate Boundary
Continental into continental
Earthquakes are common

Evidence for Evolution

Your DNA tells an evolutionary story! We inherit genes from our parents, and mutations occur randomly over generations. Scientists can compare DNA sequences between species to determine how closely related they are—more similar sequences mean closer evolutionary relationships.

Looking at body structures provides another fascinating clue. Homologous structures are similarities that indicate common ancestry—like how a human arm, cat paw, whale flipper, and bat wing all have the same basic bone structure! They've adapted to different environments but share a common blueprint.

Not all similar structures indicate shared ancestry, though. Analogous structures serve the same purpose but evolved independently—like bird wings versus bat wings versus insect wings. They look similar because they solve the same problem (flight), not because they share an ancestor.

🔬 Next time you see pictures of embryos from different animals, notice how similar they look in early development! Comparative embryology reveals that related species share developmental genes, providing yet another piece of evolutionary evidence.

Changes to the Earth and their Influence on Natural Components
Convergent Plate Boundary
Continental into continental
Earthquakes are common

Classification and Evolution

The early development of embryos provides compelling evidence for evolution. The more similar embryos appear during development, the more closely related their species are likely to be. This is because related organisms share similar developmental genes that control how they grow from a single cell.

Taxonomy, the classification system for all living things, organizes life forms based on their evolutionary relationships. By examining shared characteristics, scientists can determine how closely related different species are and create a "family tree" of life.

All these different lines of evidence—fossils, DNA, comparative anatomy, embryology, and taxonomy—work together to support evolution. Like pieces of a puzzle, they create a comprehensive picture of how life on Earth has changed and diversified over billions of years.

We thought you’d never ask...

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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

Thomas R

iOS user

Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend

Aubrey

iOS user

Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

Marco B

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

Thomas R

iOS user

Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend

Aubrey

iOS user

Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

Marco B

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

Paul T

iOS user

 

AP Biology

170

Dec 11, 2025

5 pages

Earth Science Basics: Plate Tectonics and Evolution

user profile picture

Katelyn

@rosieanox

Ever wondered why mountains form or how life on Earth became so diverse? This study guide explores the dynamic processes that shape our planet and the evolution of life. From powerful plate movements that create mountains and volcanoes to the... Show more

Changes to the Earth and their Influence on Natural Components
Convergent Plate Boundary
Continental into continental
Earthquakes are common

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Plate Boundaries and Mountain Formation

When Earth's plates collide at convergent boundaries, dramatic landforms emerge. When continental plates smash into each other, massive mountain ranges form without volcanoes. This happens because both plates are made of lightweight granite and neither sinks beneath the other—they just crumple upward!

The ocean floor tells a different story. When oceanic plates converge, the older, denser plate sinks (subducts) beneath the other into the mantle. This creates deep-sea trenches where the plate bends downward. As the sinking plate descends, it melts, creating magma that rises to form dramatic volcanic island chains over millions of years.

💡 Think of plate boundaries like a traffic system—some plates crash head-on (convergent), some pull apart (divergent), and others slide past each other (transform). Each type creates unique landforms!

The interaction between oceanic and continental plates is particularly dramatic. The denser oceanic plate always subducts beneath the lighter continental one, creating both deep-sea trenches and volcanic mountain ranges along the continental edge.

Changes to the Earth and their Influence on Natural Components
Convergent Plate Boundary
Continental into continental
Earthquakes are common

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

More Plate Movements and The Rock Cycle

At divergent boundaries between oceanic plates, something amazing happens—the seafloor literally splits open! Magma rises from below, creating new crust that pushes the plates apart and forms underwater mountain ridges. This process constantly creates new seafloor.

Transform boundaries work differently—plates slide horizontally past each other, either in opposite directions or at different speeds. When they suddenly slip, energy releases as earthquakes. Unlike other boundaries, transform boundaries neither create nor destroy Earth's crust—they're like a geological tug-of-war between equally matched forces.

The constant movement of Earth's crust drives the rock cycle, where rocks transform between metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary types. Weathering (the breakdown of rocks by wind, water, and organisms) and erosion (the transport of these materials) are crucial processes that reshape the landscape.

🌊 Did you know? Sinkholes form when underground erosion creates empty spaces that can no longer support the surface above. The ground literally collapses into these hidden caverns!

Changes to the Earth and their Influence on Natural Components
Convergent Plate Boundary
Continental into continental
Earthquakes are common

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Evolution: The Great Transformer

Evolution is the incredible process that turned simple life forms into the amazing diversity of creatures we see today. It works through changes in genes over time, primarily through genetic mutations. Contrary to popular belief, evolution doesn't explain how life began—it explains how life changed after it started.

Charles Darwin developed the Theory of Natural Selection after his famous five-year expedition around the world. While collecting specimens in places like the Galapagos Islands, he was struck by the tremendous diversity of organisms and began questioning how life could be so different across the planet.

Fossil evidence provides powerful support for evolution. These preserved remains of ancient organisms show us what lived in the past and how species changed. Using the law of superposition (deeper fossils are older) and radiometric dating measuringdecayofCarbon14measuring decay of Carbon-14, scientists can determine exactly how old fossils are.

🦖 Evolution is called a "theory," but don't be confused! In science, theories aren't just guesses—they're comprehensive explanations backed by mountains of evidence. Scientists use the term because they always remain open to new discoveries.

Changes to the Earth and their Influence on Natural Components
Convergent Plate Boundary
Continental into continental
Earthquakes are common

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Evidence for Evolution

Your DNA tells an evolutionary story! We inherit genes from our parents, and mutations occur randomly over generations. Scientists can compare DNA sequences between species to determine how closely related they are—more similar sequences mean closer evolutionary relationships.

Looking at body structures provides another fascinating clue. Homologous structures are similarities that indicate common ancestry—like how a human arm, cat paw, whale flipper, and bat wing all have the same basic bone structure! They've adapted to different environments but share a common blueprint.

Not all similar structures indicate shared ancestry, though. Analogous structures serve the same purpose but evolved independently—like bird wings versus bat wings versus insect wings. They look similar because they solve the same problem (flight), not because they share an ancestor.

🔬 Next time you see pictures of embryos from different animals, notice how similar they look in early development! Comparative embryology reveals that related species share developmental genes, providing yet another piece of evolutionary evidence.

Changes to the Earth and their Influence on Natural Components
Convergent Plate Boundary
Continental into continental
Earthquakes are common

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Classification and Evolution

The early development of embryos provides compelling evidence for evolution. The more similar embryos appear during development, the more closely related their species are likely to be. This is because related organisms share similar developmental genes that control how they grow from a single cell.

Taxonomy, the classification system for all living things, organizes life forms based on their evolutionary relationships. By examining shared characteristics, scientists can determine how closely related different species are and create a "family tree" of life.

All these different lines of evidence—fossils, DNA, comparative anatomy, embryology, and taxonomy—work together to support evolution. Like pieces of a puzzle, they create a comprehensive picture of how life on Earth has changed and diversified over billions of years.

We thought you’d never ask...

What is the Knowunity AI companion?

Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.

Where can I download the Knowunity app?

You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.

Is Knowunity really free of charge?

That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.

1

Smart Tools NEW

Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines

Mock Exam
Quiz
Flashcards
Essay

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

App Store

4.8/5

Google Play

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

Thomas R

iOS user

Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend

Aubrey

iOS user

Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

Marco B

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

Thomas R

iOS user

Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend

Aubrey

iOS user

Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

Marco B

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

Paul T

iOS user