Tectonic Plate Boundaries Quiz

Tectonic Plate Boundaries

• Tectonic plates are large sections of Earth's lithosphere (crust) that move on currents in the molten mantle.
• Two main types of plates: continental (lighter, less dense, granite) and oceanic (denser, heavier, basalt).
• Plate movement is driven by convection currents in the mantle: heated magma rises, cools, and sinks, creating currents.

Convergent Boundaries

• Two plates collide.
• Oceanic-Continental: Oceanic plate subducts (sinks) under the continental plate.
• Oceanic-Oceanic: One oceanic plate subducts under the other.
• Continental-Continental: Both plates push upward, forming mountain ranges.
• Examples: Himalayas (India and Eurasia colliding), Andes Mountains (subduction of oceanic plate under South American plate)
• Features: mountains, volcanoes, subduction zones, trenches, volcanic islands

Divergent Boundaries

• Two plates move apart.
• Magma rises to fill the gap, creating new crust.
• Oceanic: Mid-Atlantic Ridge (largest underwater mountain range).
• Continental: Rift valleys, such as the East African Rift Valley.
• Features: rift valleys, mid-ocean ridges, new crust formation

Transform Boundaries

• Two plates slide past each other horizontally.
• Friction builds, then releases energy as earthquakes.
• Fault lines are created (normal, reverse, strike-slip, oblique).
• Example: San Andreas Fault (Pacific and North American plates).
• Features: fault lines, earthquakes

Convergent vs. Divergent

• Convergent: Plates move towards each other, resulting in subduction or collision.
• Divergent: Plates move away from each other, resulting in spreading and new crust formation.
• Both can create mountains and volcanoes, but the processes differ.
• Summary table: Provided in the article.