Science Olympiad Dynamic Planet Practice Test

What type of plate boundary would you find at the collision of two continental plates?

1. Divergent Boundary

2. Transform Boundary

3. Convergent Boundary

4. Oceanic Boundary

The correct answer is: Convergent Boundary

At the collision of two continental plates, a convergent boundary is formed. This type of boundary is characterized by the tectonic plates moving towards each other. When two continental plates collide, neither plate is subducted due to their similar densities. Instead, this collision results in the folding and uplifting of the crust, leading to the formation of mountain ranges. A prime example of this process is the Himalayas, which were formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. Divergent boundaries, in contrast, occur when two plates move apart, typically creating new crust as magma rises to the surface. Transform boundaries involve plates sliding past one another horizontally, which can lead to earthquakes, but does not create new landforms like mountain ranges. Oceanic boundaries typically refer to interactions between oceanic and continental plates or between two oceanic plates, which are not applicable in the context of two continental plates colliding.