Tectonic Plate Boundary Types
Name 3 main types of plate boundaries
Divergent, Convergent, Transform
What force or process causes convection currents in Earth's mantle that help move plates?
Thermal Convection currents
Two plates move towards each other
convergent
What major surface feature is typically created at a divergent boundary in the ocean?
midocean ridge
What type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move away from each other?
Divergent
define a slab pull
the sinking of cold, dense oceanic plate pulls the rest of the plate behind it.
how do plate move at a divergent boundary
move apart, away from each other
Name a mountain range formed by continental continental convergence?
Himalayas
Forms when an oveanic plate collides with a continental plate and one plate subducts
Convergent
What is ridge push?
elevated mid ocean ridges push plates away by gravity, new crust forms.
how can we measure movement at a transform boundary?
GPS measurements, offset streams, linear fault scarps
Explain how a deep ocean trench forms and name on place it exists?
It forms at subduction zones - Mariana Trench
Plates sliding past each other horizontally
transform
describe how friction and locking at plate boundaries can lead to earthquakes
Friction causes plates to stick; stress accumulates until sudden slip releases energy as an earthquake
Give two pieces of evidence that supports Pangea
matching fossil on different continents, the fit of the continents, rock strata
How does a volcanic arc form?
Oceanic plate subducts under another one, melting produces volcanoes that forms curved chains of islands.
Explain how two continental plates differ from convergent boundary between a continental and oceanic plate.
continental convergent plates: both pates crumble and form tall mountains; denser oceanic plate subducts under continental plate causing volcanoes and trenches.
Explain the differences in plate density influence which plate subducts during a collision and why that creates volcanic activity
Denser plates subduct beneath less dense continental plates; subduction causes melting of the mantel material and magma formation, leading to volcanism.
How does magnetic striping on the ocean floor provide evidence for seafloor spreading?
New crust forms at the seafloor iron rich minerals record earth's magnetic field.
How can Transform boundaries shape coastal landscapes of long periods?
Over long periods of time they create shift along shorelines and mountain ranges.