What happens to the plates at divergent plate boundaries?
Question
What happens to the plates at divergent plate boundaries?
Solution
At divergent plate boundaries, the following occurs:
-
The plates move apart from each other. This movement is caused by the convection currents that rise from the Earth's mantle.
-
As the plates separate, a gap is created. This gap is often filled with molten rock or magma from beneath the Earth's crust.
-
When the magma cools and solidifies, it forms new crust. This process is known as seafloor spreading.
-
Over time, this process can lead to the formation of mid-ocean ridges, which are underwater mountain ranges.
-
In some cases, if the divergent boundary occurs on land, it can lead to the formation of a rift valley.
-
The continuous activity at these boundaries can also result in volcanic activity and earthquakes.
-
Overall, divergent plate boundaries are areas of constructive processes where new crust is created.
Similar Questions
What happens to the plates at divergent plate boundaries?plates slide apartplates pull apartplates collide
Explain what happens at a divergent plate boundary. Given an example of where we can find a divergent boundary on land.View keyboard shortcutsEditViewInsertFormatToolsTable12ptParagraph
Which of the following is characteristic of oceanic-continental convergent plate boundaries?
Which of the following plate boundaries causes the edges of one or both plates to buckle up into mountain ranges?
The plate boundary where two plates separate is callled a ......... plate boundary
Upgrade your grade with Knowee
Get personalized homework help. Review tough concepts in more detail, or go deeper into your topic by exploring other relevant questions.