Plate Boundaries

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What is a convergent plate boundary?

Back

A convergent plate boundary is where two tectonic plates move towards each other, often causing one plate to be forced below the other, leading to the formation of mountains, trenches, or volcanic activity.

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What is a divergent plate boundary?

Back

A divergent plate boundary is where two tectonic plates move away from each other, creating new crust as magma rises to the surface, often resulting in rift valleys or mid-ocean ridges.

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What is a transform plate boundary?

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A transform plate boundary is where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally, which can cause earthquakes along faults.

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What is the asthenosphere?

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The asthenosphere is the plastic-like layer of the Earth located beneath the lithosphere, where tectonic plates move around like rafts.

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What is the lithosphere?

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The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.

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What are convection currents?

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Convection currents are the movement of fluid caused by differences in temperature and density, which in the Earth's mantle, drive the movement of tectonic plates.

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What is subduction?

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Subduction is the process where one tectonic plate is forced under another, often leading to the formation of trenches and volcanic activity.

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What is a tectonic plate?

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A tectonic plate is a large, rigid piece of the Earth's lithosphere that moves and interacts with other plates, causing geological activity.

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What geological features are formed at convergent boundaries?

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Convergent boundaries can form mountains, deep ocean trenches, and volcanic arcs.

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What geological features are formed at divergent boundaries?

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Divergent boundaries can form rift valleys and mid-ocean ridges.