What is the plate tectonic theory?
The plate tectonic theory explains the how some characteristics of the Earth’s surface came to be and the movement of the surface in history and the present. The theory is that there are several plates divided from the Earth’s outer crust (the lithosphere) that move over the core of the Earth (the mantle). In comparison to the Earth’s mantle, these plates behave like a tough and rigid shell. The reason the plates move is because of convection in the mantle and hot substances near the mantle moves upwards and the ‘cooler’ material sinks. Researchers believe that the convection forces the plate tectonics through numerous amounts of pushing and spreading separately at mid-ocean ridges and pulling and sinking at subduction zones
The plate tectonic theory explains the how some characteristics of the Earth’s surface came to be and the movement of the surface in history and the present. The theory is that there are several plates divided from the Earth’s outer crust (the lithosphere) that move over the core of the Earth (the mantle). In comparison to the Earth’s mantle, these plates behave like a tough and rigid shell. The reason the plates move is because of convection in the mantle and hot substances near the mantle moves upwards and the ‘cooler’ material sinks. Researchers believe that the convection forces the plate tectonics through numerous amounts of pushing and spreading separately at mid-ocean ridges and pulling and sinking at subduction zones
What are the different types of plate boundaries?
There are 3 different plate boundaries: Destructive (Convergent), Constructive (Divergent) and Conservative (Transform).
The Online Dictionary defines a destructive plate boundary as a major geologic discontinuity or suture marking the juncture of lithospheric plates that have been joined by plate tectonics. In simpler terms, a destructive plate boundary is when two plates move together. When an oceanic plate travels in the direction of a continental plate, the oceanic plate drops beneath the continental plate. The heavily compacted rocks and materials that make up the oceanic plate make the plate denser than a continental plate. The striking of the edge of one or both plates can result in a rocky mountain range, or even curve in the opposite direction to form a deep seafloor trench.
There are 3 different plate boundaries: Destructive (Convergent), Constructive (Divergent) and Conservative (Transform).
The Online Dictionary defines a destructive plate boundary as a major geologic discontinuity or suture marking the juncture of lithospheric plates that have been joined by plate tectonics. In simpler terms, a destructive plate boundary is when two plates move together. When an oceanic plate travels in the direction of a continental plate, the oceanic plate drops beneath the continental plate. The heavily compacted rocks and materials that make up the oceanic plate make the plate denser than a continental plate. The striking of the edge of one or both plates can result in a rocky mountain range, or even curve in the opposite direction to form a deep seafloor trench.
A divergent boundary is defined as “A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving
away from each other and new crust is forming from magma that rises to the
Earth's surface between the two plates”. Basically, a divergent or Constructive plate
boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other. As this
happens, magma rises from the
mantle and comes through the gap in the earth’s crust. This eventually cools
and hardens into solid rock, forming a new
crust on the ripped sides of the tectonic plates.
A conservative plate boundary occurs when two plates slide past one
another horizontally, but do not create or destroy the Earth’s Crust. Rocks
that are on the lining of the boundary are crushed as the plates move,
resulting in a linear fault valley or undersea canyon. As the plates move,
earthquakes can occur through a large boundary zone, but as no magma is formed
in this process, it does not result in volcanic activity.