What happens at a convergent plate boundary?(1 point)
Responses
Earth's rock plates pull away from each other
Earth's rock plates pull away from each other
Earth’s rock plates collide with one another
Earth’s rock plates collide with one another
Earth’s rock plates grow denser
Earth’s rock plates grow denser
Earth’s rock plates slide past each other
Earth’s rock plates collide with one another
At a convergent plate boundary, Earth's rock plates collide with one another.
At a convergent plate boundary, Earth's rock plates collide with one another. This collision occurs when two tectonic plates move towards each other. To understand this process, you can visualize the following steps:
1. Identify the types of convergent plate boundaries: There are three main types of convergent plate boundaries: oceanic-oceanic, oceanic-continental, and continental-continental. In each case, two tectonic plates are moving towards each other.
2. Understand plate subduction: When an oceanic plate converges with either another oceanic plate or a continental plate, one plate is usually denser and therefore sinks beneath the other. This process is known as subduction. The subducting plate sinks into the mantle, forming a deep-sea trench.
3. Observe the effects of subduction: As the denser plate subducts, it creates intense heat and pressure in the Earth's interior. This can cause volcanic activity to occur, resulting in the formation of volcanic arcs, such as the Cascade Range in North America or the Andes in South America.
4. Recognize mountain formation: When two continental plates collide at a convergent boundary, neither plate is subducted. Instead, the collision causes the crust to buckle and fold, resulting in the formation of mountains. The collision can also lead to intense earthquakes as the plates grind against each other.
So, in summary, at a convergent plate boundary, Earth's rock plates collide with one another. This collision can lead to subduction, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountains depending on the type of convergent boundary and the types of plates involved.