Plate Margins

Question 1

What is a conservative plate margin

Answer 1

At conservative plate margins, plates are sliding past each other
The plates are made of rock that has jagged edges so they catch and snag against one another.

Friction and pressure between the plates builds until the plates can’t take the stress.
They slip past each other, which can cause both plates to move and, as a result, the ground may shake (earthquake)

Question 2

What is the destructive plate margin

Answer 2

The oceanic plate slides beneath the continental plate. The point at which this happens is called a subduction zone.
The rocks catch against one another as the plates are not smooth surfaces

The pressure between the plates builds until the plates can’t take the stress.

Question 3

Constructive/divergent plate margins

Answer 3

At constructive plate margins, the plates move apart (diverge).
The convection currents diverge (push apart) and cause a gap to form between the plates.
Magma rises up to fill the gap that is created between the 2 plates.