Which boundary occurs when plates move away from each other?

Which boundary occurs when plates move away from each other?

• A. Convergent Boundary
• B. Transform Boundary
• C. Divergent Boundary
• D. Conservative Boundary

Answer: (C)

When plates move apart, a divergent boundary is formed. The space created between the separating plates allows magma from the mantle to rise up and fill the gap, cooling to form new crust. This process is known as sea-floor spreading at mid-ocean ridges and explains why new crust appears at these boundaries. Convergent boundaries involve plates colliding, leading to subduction or mountain-building. Transform boundaries involve plates sliding past each other horizontally, often causing earthquakes. Conservative boundary is another term sometimes used for transform boundaries, describing no net creation or destruction of crust. These do not describe the plates moving away from each other, so they’re not the correct type in this situation.

When plates move apart, a divergent boundary is formed. The space created between the separating plates allows magma from the mantle to rise up and fill the gap, cooling to form new crust. This process is known as sea-floor spreading at mid-ocean ridges and explains why new crust appears at these boundaries.

Convergent boundaries involve plates colliding, leading to subduction or mountain-building. Transform boundaries involve plates sliding past each other horizontally, often causing earthquakes. Conservative boundary is another term sometimes used for transform boundaries, describing no net creation or destruction of crust. These do not describe the plates moving away from each other, so they’re not the correct type in this situation.