Question

exploration activity
plate tectonics is the study of how continents move, and how features of earth’s surface form. large pieces of earth’s crust are called tectonic plates. scientists have identified 15 major tectonic plates and many smaller ones. as these tectonic plates move, they carry the continents with them, therefore the movement of these tectonic plates explains the movement of the continents. where one tectonic plate ends and another begins is known as a plate boundary. an area where two tectonic plates are moving away from each other is called a divergent boundary. an area where two tectonic plates are moving toward each other is called a convergent boundary. an area where two tectonic plates are sliding past each other is called a transform fault boundary.

use table 1 from page 271 in your textbook to complete the table below. then use the table to answer the questions.

table 1: plate boundary summary with columns type of boundary, description, example, and arrows for each type

1. which plate boundary causes plates to collide forming mountain ranges, volcanoes, and island arcs? what is an example of this type of plate boundary?

1. at which plate boundary do rifts and mid-ocean ridges form? what is an example of this type of plate boundary?

1. at which plate boundary do plates slide past each other while moving in opposite directions? what is an example of this type of boundary?

Explanation:

Question 1

To answer this, we refer to the table. The convergent boundary is described as plates moving toward each other and colliding to form ocean trenches, mountain ranges, volcanoes, and island arcs. The example given is the South American and Nazca plates at the Chilean trench along the west coast of South America.

From the table, the divergent boundary is where plates move away from each other to form rifts and mid - ocean ridges. The example is the North American and Eurasian plates at the Mid - Atlantic Ridge.

Looking at the table, the transform fault boundary is where plates slide past each other while moving in opposite directions. The example is the North American and Pacific plates at the San Andreas Fault in California.

Answer:

The plate boundary that causes plates to collide forming mountain ranges, volcanoes, and island arcs is the convergent boundary. An example is the South American and Nazca plates at the Chilean trench along the west coast of South America.

Question 2