10.2 Plate Boundaries

Question 1

What are Divergent Boundaries?

Answer 1

-Plates that move away from each other
-If happens on ocean seafloor, called ocean ridges (underwater volcano chains) will form seafloor spreading
-If this happens on land, places called rift valleys form magma rises from the asthenosphere, filling the rift and forming new crust known as constructive boundaries

Question 2

What are Converging Boundaries?

Answer 2

Converging boundaries collide together, destroying rocks known as destructive boundaries
-Continental-continental: Collision pushes rocks upwards, forming large mountain ranges.
-Oceanic-continental: denser oceanic crust sinks beneath continental crust, creating deep trenches. This is called subduction which occurs at subduction zones.
-Oceanic-oceanic: Faster plate subducts, forming a deep trench. Subducted plate melts, creating magma that forms volcanic island arcs.

Question 3

What are Transform Boundaries?

Answer 3

-Plates slowly slide past each other in parallel
-Pressure builds up until sudden slips cause an earthquake. Oceanic earthquakes can form tsunamis
-Fold mountains typically form along the boundary. Cracks in the plate along the boundaries are known as fault lines.