Types of Boundaries

Earth Sciences: Plate Boundaries

In the theory of plate tectonics, the earth's crust is broken into plates that move around relative to each other. As a result of this movement, three types of plate boundaries are formed: divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.

Divergent Boundaries

Divergent boundaries are boundaries where plates pull away from each other, forming mild earthquakes and volcanoes as magma comes to the surface.

Convergent Boundaries

Convergent boundaries are boundaries where two plates are pushing into each other. They are formed when two plates collide, either crumpling up and forming mountains or pushing one of the plates under the other and back into the mantle to melt.

Transform Boundaries

The third type is transform boundaries, or boundaries where plates slide past each other, forming strong earthquakes. All of this crashing, banging, and erupting are one reason why the surface of the earth has such a variety of landforms and features.

A ​Convergent plate boundaries

Effects

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The impact of the colliding plates can cause the edges of one or both plates to buckle up into a mountain ranges or one of the plates may bend down into a deep seafloor trench. A chain of volcanoes often forms parallel to convergent plate boundaries and powerful earthquakes are common along these boundaries. The Pacific Ring of Fire is an example of a convergent plate boundary.

Subduction Zone

addition of water​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​A Divergent plate boundary

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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. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of divergent plate boundaries.

​A Transform plate boundary

Multiple Choice

What type of plate boundary is this?

• Transform

• Convergent

• Divergent

• Plate

Multiple Choice

What are the two types of crust

• continental and oceanic

• ocean and upper

• lower and upper

• pizza and subway

Multiple Choice

What geologic feature/event would you most likely to find at a divergent boundary between two pieces of oceanic crust?

• Rift Valley

• Mid-Ocean Ridge

• Island Arc

• Flat land

Multiple Choice

Creates new ocean floor:

• Divergent

• Convergent

• Transform

Multiple Choice

Subduction:

• Divergent

• Convergent

• Transform

Multiple Choice

Moves away from:

• Divergent

• Convergent

• Transform

Multiple Choice

Moves together:

• Divergent

• Convergent

• Transform

Multiple Choice

Can produce earthquakes

• Divergent

• Convergent

• Transform

• Actually, all of them

Multiple Choice

Sliding past:

• Divergent

• Convergent

• Transform

• Actually, all of them

Multiple Choice

Creates volcanoes on land:

• Divergent

• Convergent

• Transform

• Actually, all of them

Multiple Choice

Upwelling of magma:

• Divergent

• Convergent

• Transform

• Actually, all of them

Multiple Choice

Recycles old crust:

• Divergent

• Convergent

• Transform

• Actually, all of them

Multiple Choice

The Pacific is getting wider due to this plate boundary:

• Convergent

• Divergent

• Transform

• Subduction

Multiple Choice

When two tectonic plates are moving away from each other, the boundary between them is called...

• Divergent boundary

• Convergent boundary

• Transform boundary

• Subduction

Multiple Choice

When two tectonic plates are moving toward each other, the boundary between them is called...

• Divergent boundary

• Convergent boundary

• Transform boundary

• Subduction

Multiple Choice

When two tectonic plates slide past each other, neither crashing together, nor pulling apart, the boundary between them is called...

• Divergent boundary

• Convergent boundary

• Transform boundary

• Subduction

Multiple Choice

Sometimes, when two tectonic plates collide, one is pushed below the other; this action at the convergent boundary is called...

• Divergent boundary

• Convergent boundary

• Transform boundary

• Subduction

Multiple Choice

When convergent plates collide, if both plates are pushed upward, this forms.

• Fissures

• Mountain Ranges

• Volcanoes

• Rock Cycle

Multiple Choice

The area where two or more plates meet is called a __________________.

• fault

• plate boundary

• plate edge

• ring of fire

Multiple Choice

The Himalayan mountains and Mt. Everest can be found at this plate boundary.

• Convergent

• Divergent

• Transform

Multiple Choice

What are the 3 kinds of plate boundaries?

• convergent. divergent, constructive

• transform, destructive,

  convergent

• convergent, destructive, divergent

• transform, divergent, convergent

Multiple Choice

Two plates come together or collide at what boundary?

• Convergent

• Divergent

• Transform

Multiple Choice

Two plates spread or move apart at what boundary?

• Convergent

• Divergent

• Transform

Multiple Choice

Two plates slide past each other at what boundary?

• Covergent

• Divergent

• Transform

Multiple Choice

What geologic feature/event you be most likely to find at a transform boundary?

• fault lines/Earthquakes

• Volcanoes

• Mountains

• Rift Valleys

Multiple Choice

What geologic feature/event would you most likely to find at a divergent boundary between two pieces of oceanic crust?

• Rift Valley

• Mid-Ocean Ridge

• Island Arc

• Flat land