Science Olympiad Dynamic Planet Practice Test

Which type of plate boundary is characterized by plates moving apart from each other?

1. Transform boundary

2. Convergent boundary

3. Divergent boundary

4. Subduction zone

The correct answer is: Divergent boundary

The type of plate boundary where plates move apart from each other is known as a divergent boundary. This process typically occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where tectonic plates separate and new oceanic crust is formed as magma rises to the surface. As the plates pull away, this movement creates a gap that allows magma to escape and solidify, gradually increasing the ocean floor's size. Additionally, divergent boundaries are associated with specific geological features and processes, including volcanic activity and earthquake occurrences that are often less intense compared to those found at convergent boundaries. In contrast, transform boundaries involve plates sliding past one another, convergent boundaries occur where plates push together, and subduction zones represent a specific type of convergent boundary where one plate sinks beneath another. Each of these has distinct geologic activities and features that differ significantly from the processes occurring at divergent boundaries.