Different types of plate boundaries
The point at which two plates meet is called a The region where two or more tectonic plates meet. It is a zone of intense seismic activity. or margin.
Convergent plate boundaries
A When two tectonic plates move towards each other and collide. also known as a This happens where crustal plates move together and one is forced beneath the other., usually involves an oceanic plate and a continental plate. The plates move towards one another and this movement can cause earthquakes and volcanoes.
As the plates collide, the oceanic plate is forced beneath the continental plate. This is known as When one crustal plate is forced beneath the other. and results in the formation of an ocean trench. This happens because the oceanic plate is denser (heavier) than the continental plate.
When the plate sinks into the mantle it melts to form magma. The pressure of the magma builds up beneath the Earth's surface. The magma escapes through weaknesses in the rock and rises up through a composite volcano, also known as a A volcano made up of alternate layers of ash and lava.. The volcanic eruptions are often violent, with lots of steam, gas and ash.
If two continental plates collide, neither can sink and so the land buckles upwards to form fold mountains. This is called a The point at which two continental plates collide (neither plate is able to sink) and the land buckles. This creates a fold mountain, eg the Himalayas.. Earthquakes can occur at collision boundaries.
Divergent plate boundaries
At a An area where two tectonic plates are moving away from one another. - also known as a constructive plate boundary, the plates move apart from one another. When this happens the magma from the mantle rises up to make (or construct) new crust. The movement of the plates over the mantle can cause earthquakes. Rising magma can also create A volcano with gentle slopes that was made by runny, less explosive basic lava..
Landforms at a divergent plate boundary include ocean ridges, eg the Mid-Atlantic ridge (where the Eurasian plate and the North Atlantic plate are moving apart from each other under the Atlantic Ocean), rift valleys eg the East African Rift Valley and shield volcanoes.
Conservative plate boundaries
At a conservative Areas between two crustal plates that are moving past each other in opposite directions or at different speeds. , the plates slide past each other in opposite directions, or in the same direction but at different speeds. As the plates try to move, friction occurs and plates become stuck. Pressure builds up because the plates are still trying to move. When the pressure is released, it sends out huge amounts of energy causing an earthquake. The earthquakes at a conservative plate boundary can be very destructive as they occur close to the Earth's surface. There are no volcanoes at a conservative plate boundary.