Science Olympiad Dynamic Planet Practice Test

Which type of boundary is characterized as a transform fault?

1. Where plates pull apart

2. Where plates collide

3. Where plates slide horizontally

4. Where plates subduct

The correct answer is: Where plates slide horizontally

Transform faults are a specific type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally. This movement does not result in the creation or destruction of the lithosphere, unlike divergent boundaries, where plates pull apart, or convergent boundaries, where plates collide and often one plate is forced beneath another in a process called subduction. In a transform fault, the friction between the sliding plates can lead to the buildup of stress along the boundary, which can be released in the form of earthquakes. The San Andreas Fault in California is one well-known example of a transform fault, illustrating the horizontal motion characteristic of this type of boundary. Understanding the nature of transform faults is crucial for grasping how they contribute to seismic activity and the overall dynamics of the Earth’s crust.