How does a divergent plate boundary form?

Asked by: Kevin Skipper

A divergent boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other. Along these boundaries, earthquakes are common and magma (molten rock) rises from the Earth’s mantle to the surface, solidifying to create new oceanic crust. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of divergent plate boundaries.

Where are divergent boundaries formed?

mid-ocean oceanic ridges

Divergent boundaries are spreading boundaries, where new oceanic crust is created to fill in the space as the plates move apart. Most divergent boundaries are located along mid-ocean oceanic ridges (although some are on land).

How plate boundaries are formed?

They are formed when two plates collide, either crumpling up and forming mountains or pushing one of the plates under the other and back into the mantle to melt. Convergent boundaries form strong earthquakes, as well as volcanic mountains or islands, when the sinking oceanic plate melts.

What happens at a divergent plate boundary?

Divergent (Spreading):This is where two plates move away from each other. Molten rock from the mantle erupts along the opening, forming new crust. The earthquakes that occur along these zones, called spreading centers, are relatively small.

Which feature forms at a divergent boundary?

A divergent plate boundary often forms a mountain chain known as a ridge. This feature forms as magma escapes into the space between the spreading tectonic plates.

What is a divergent plate boundary for kids?

Divergent Boundaries – A divergent boundary is one where two plates are getting pushed apart. The area on land where the boundary occurs is called a rift. New land is formed by magma pushing up from the mantle and cooling as it reaches the surface.

What are examples of divergent plate boundaries?

An example of a divergent boundary is the mid Atlantic Ridge (there are mid ocean ridges in the Indian, and Pacific Oceans as well). The Mid Atlantic Ridge creates volcanos where the hot magma erupts from the underlining mantle. Many of these volcanos are undersea volcanos forming the mid Atlantic ridge.

How do plates move at divergent plate boundaries quizlet?

How do plates move at divergent plate boundaries? Plates move apart at divergent plate boundaries. How do plates move at convergent plate boundaries? Plates move toward one another at convergent plate boundaries.

What is divergent convergent and transform?

Divergent: extensional; the plates move apart. Spreading ridges, basin-range. Convergent: compressional; plates move toward each other. Includes: Subduction zones and mountain building. Transform: shearing; plates slide past each other.

What is the process of divergent continental?

Plate Divergence on Land



When plate divergence occurs on land, the continental crust rifts, or splits. This effectively creates a new ocean basin as the pieces of the continent move apart. In continental rifting, magma rises beneath the continent, causing it to become thinner, break, and ultimately split apart.

What boundary causes earthquakes?

At convergent plate boundaries, where two continental plates collide earthquakes are deep and also very powerful. In general, the deepest and the most powerful earthquakes occur at plate collision (or subduction) zones at convergent plate boundaries.

Do divergent boundaries create volcanoes?

Volcanoes are most common in these geologically active boundaries. The two types of plate boundaries that are most likely to produce volcanic activity are divergent plate boundaries and convergent plate boundaries.

What are the 3 types of divergent boundaries?

Plate Boundaries-Divergent-Convergent-Transform

Do divergent boundaries only occur on the ocean floor?

Oceanic lithosphere is created at divergent boundaries. Divergent boundaries only occur at the ocean floor. Process by which plate tectonics produces new oceanic lithosphere. Deep faulted structure found along a divergent boundary.

Where do most divergent boundaries originate quizlet?

-Most divergent plate boundaries are located along the crests of ocean ridges.

What are the 3 divergent plate boundaries?

False, because the correct statement is: There are three types of divergent plate boundaries, namely continental-continental, oceanic-continental, and oceanic-oceanic.

Are divergent boundaries continental or oceanic?

Unlike convergent boundaries, divergence occurs between only oceanic or only continental plates, not one of each. The vast majority of divergent boundaries are found in the ocean, where they were not mapped or understood until the mid-to-late 20th century.

What boundary causes earthquakes?

At convergent plate boundaries, where two continental plates collide earthquakes are deep and also very powerful. In general, the deepest and the most powerful earthquakes occur at plate collision (or subduction) zones at convergent plate boundaries.