What happens when two plates slide together?
If the two plates that meet at a convergent plate boundary both are of oceanic crust the older denser plate will subduct beneath the less dense plate. … The older plate subducts into a trench resulting in earthquakes. Melting of mantle material creates volcanoes at the subduction zone.
What happens when 2 tectonic plates separate?
The plates diverge and this causes the construction of new rock. It happens when two tectonic plates pull apart and rock from the mantle rises up through the opening to form new surface rock when it cools. It happens at the start of a new ocean and continues at the mid-ocean ridge while the ocean is opening.
What is convergent boundary?
A convergent boundary (also known as a destructive boundary) is an area on Earth where two or more lithospheric plates collide. One plate eventually slides beneath the other, a process known as subduction. The subduction zone can be defined by a plane where many earthquakes occur, called the Wadati–Benioff zone.
What is the motion of divergent boundary?
At divergent boundaries, plates move away from each other. At convergent boundaries, plates move towards each other. At transform boundaries, plates move alongside each other.
What is it called when two plates move apart?
Divergent boundaries. Divergent boundaries occur along spreading centers where plates are moving apart and new crust is created by magma pushing up from the mantle.
What is a divergent boundary?
A divergent boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other. Along these boundaries, earthquakes are common and magma (molten rock) rises from the Earth's mantle to the surface, solidifying to create new oceanic crust.
What does a divergent boundary form?
A divergent plate boundary often forms a mountain chain known as a ridge. This feature forms as magma escapes into the space between the spreading tectonic plates.
What happens at convergent boundaries?
Convergent (Colliding): This occurs when plates move towards each other and collide. When a continental plate meets an oceanic plate, the thinner, denser, and more flexible oceanic plate sinks beneath the thicker, more rigid continental plate. This is called subduction.
What does convergent boundary?
( kən-vûr′jənt ) A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving toward each other. If the two plates are of equal density, they usually push up against each other, forming a mountain chain.
What happens in a convergent boundary?
Convergent (Colliding): This occurs when plates move towards each other and collide. When a continental plate meets an oceanic plate, the thinner, denser, and more flexible oceanic plate sinks beneath the thicker, more rigid continental plate. This is called subduction.
What does a convergent boundary form?
Convergent boundaries can form mountains, volcanos, or subduction zones that form large trenches. When two plates collide, the crusts can push together to form mountain ranges. This is how the Himalayan mountains were formed. Convergent boundaries between oceanic and continental boundaries feature a subduction zone.
What happens at a divergent plate boundary?
Divergent (Spreading):This is where two plates move away from each other. Molten rock from the mantle erupts along the opening, forming new crust. The earthquakes that occur along these zones, called spreading centers, are relatively small.