Page 144 - Science Course 2 (Book 2)

Mo11-L3a: Types of Plate Boundaries

Key Concept

Types of Plate Boundary

What are the three types of Plate boundaries?

When an oceanic plate and a continental plate
collide, the denser oceanic plate subducts under the
edge of the continent, creating a deep ocean trench
and a line of volcanoes above the subducting plate
on the edge of the continent.

When two continental plates collide, neither plate is
subducted, and mountains form from uplifted rock

Convergent plate boundary

(ocean-to-continent)
When an ocean continental plate collide, they form a
convergent plate boundary. Two oceanic plates can
also collide in either scenario. The denser plate will
subduct. A volcanic mountain, such as Mount Rainier
in the Cascade Mountains, forms along the edge of
the continent.

(continent-to-continent)
Convergent plate boundaries can also occur where
two continental plate collide. Because both plates
are equally dense, neither plate will subduct. Both
plates uplift and deform. This creates huge moun-
tains like Himalayas, shown below.
SUMMARY
Types of Plate Boundaries

Tectonic plates are made of cold and rigid
slabs of rock.

The three types of plate boundaries are
divergent, convergent, and transform
boundaries.

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