Types of Tectonic Plates and Boundaries

There are two main sections of tectonic plate: continental crust and oceanic crust

We live on continental crust; oceanic crust is under the oceans

Continental plates are less dense; they sit on top of oceanic plates

There are three types of plate boundary:

Diverging

Converging

Transform

When oceanic plates move apart they form a mid-ocean ridge, which leads to seafloor spreading

When continental plates converge (move together) they can form mountain ranges

When oceanic plates converge, the older, denser plate will sink under the newer plate

Regions where one plate sinks under another are called subduction zones

The most violent earthquakes occur near subduction zones where a continental plate converges with an oceanic plate

Transform boundaries occur when tectonic plates slide past each other

California lies on the junction of two plates forming a transform boundary.