Plate boundaries

• What are plate boundaries also called?

  Plate margins
• Where do constructive plate boundaries exist?

  Where magma rises in the mantle
• What happens to rising magma at constructive boundaries?

  It cools and creates new crust
• Where do constructive boundaries mostly appear?

  At the bottom of the sea
• What type of hazards are found at constructive boundaries?

  Volcanoes and earthquakes
• What are destructive plate boundaries also called?

  Convergent boundaries
• Why are earthquakes at constructive boundaries usually not powerful?

  Plates are mostly moving apart
• What happens at destructive boundaries?

  Tectonic plates are carried towards each other
• What occurs during subduction at destructive boundaries?

  Oceanic plate is forced underneath continental plate
• What materials are dragged down during subduction?

  Water and dead plankton
• What builds up pressure during subduction?

  Gas and lava trapped in rock
• What happens when pressure in the crust becomes too great?

  Gas and lava violently explode
• What type of earthquakes occur at destructive boundaries?

  Extremely powerful earthquakes
• How do oceanic and continental plates interact at destructive boundaries?

  They grind against and get stuck on each other
• What happens when the plates finally become unstuck?

  They violently jump upwards, causing earthquakes
• What is the second type of destructive plate boundary?

  Collision boundary
• What happens at collision boundaries?

  Both tectonic plates crash head-on
• What do collision boundaries create?

  Old mountains
• Which mountain range was formed by the collision of tectonic plates?

  The Himalayas
• What happens to plates over millions of years at collision boundaries?

  They grind, crack, and buckle upwards
• What occurs when plates build up enough energy at collision boundaries?

  They jolt back into movement, causing earthquakes
• What is the key difference between collision boundaries and volcanic boundaries?

  No magma rises at collision boundaries
• What are conservative boundaries also called?

  Transform boundaries
• What happens at conservative boundaries?

  Tectonic plates slide past each other
• What occurs when the edges of plates get stuck at conservative boundaries?

  Energy builds up and causes earthquakes
• What is the result of energy being released at conservative boundaries?

  Ground shakes, causing earthquakes
• Why are there no volcanoes at conservative boundaries?

  No magma rises underneath the crust
• What are the types of plate boundaries and their characteristics?

  1. Constructive (Divergent)

  • Plates move apart
  • New crust forms
  • Volcanoes and weak earthquakes

  
  

  1. Destructive (Convergent)

  • Plates move towards each other
  • Subduction occurs
  • Powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

  
  

  1. Collision

  • Continental plates collide
  • Old mountains formed
  • No volcanic activity

  
  

  1. Conservative (Transform)

  • Plates slide past each other
  • Energy builds up
  • Earthquakes occur, no volcanic activity
• What are plate boundaries also called?

  Plate margins
• What is another name for constructive plate boundaries?

  Divergent plate boundaries
• Why do constructive plate boundaries mostly appear at the bottom of the sea?

  Because magma rises, cools, and creates new crust underwater
• Where can you see evidence of tectonic plates splitting apart on land?

  Iceland
• Why are earthquakes at constructive boundaries usually not very powerful?

  Because the plates are mostly moving apart, not grinding
• What is the process called when an oceanic plate is forced under a continental plate?

  Subduction
• Why does the oceanic plate sink under the continental plate at destructive boundaries?

  Because the oceanic plate is denser
• What causes volcanic eruptions at destructive boundaries?

  Pressure from trapped gases and magma
• What type of plate boundary creates old mountains?

  Collision boundary
• Which mountain range is formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates?

  Himalayas
• Why are there no volcanic eruptions at collision boundaries?

  Because no magma rises up from underneath
• What is another name for conservative plate boundaries?

  Transform boundaries