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Oceanic plates are primarily made up of basaltic rock while continental plates are primarily made of granitic rock. Basalt is denser than granite which allows oceanic plates to subduct beneath continental plates.

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9y ago
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12y ago

There is no doubt that the oceanic plate is denser than the continental plate, however, it is thinner than the continental plate at the same time! The oceanic plate is made up of silicon and magnesium and other materials whereas the continental plate is made up of silicon and aluminum and other materials, therefore, the oceanic plates are denser and are below the continental plates.

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6y ago

in the theory of tectonic plates, at a convergent boundary between a continental plate and an oceanic plate, the denser plate usually subducts underneath the less dense plate. It is well known that oceanic plates subduct under continental plates, and therefore oceanic plates are more dense than continental plates.

My question is why are the oceanic plates always denser than the continental plates. I'm aware that the difference in density can be attributed to the plates differing compositions, but what I'm interested in is why these plates have different composition in the first place giving rise to their relative difference in densities.

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14y ago

An oceanic plate is more dense. The average density of continental crust is 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter. The average density of oceanic crust is 3.0 grams per cubic centimeter.

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6y ago

The Oceanic plate is denser than the Continental plate because it contains magnesium, which is denser than aluminum found in Continental plates.

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12y ago

The Oceanic plates are denser than the Continental plates because they contain magnesium, which is denser than aluminum found in Continental plates

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14y ago

because oceanic plates do not have to hold as much weight as the continental plats

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Cameron Lovato

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3y ago

the answer is 3

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13y ago

yes

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Q: Why is oceanic plate denser than continental plate?
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Related questions

Is the Nazca Plate oceanic or continental?

The Oceanic plate denser than the continental plat because it contain magnesium,which is denser than aluminum found in continental plates.


When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate which plate is subducted?

When an oceanic plate and a continental plate collide, the oceanic plate is always subducted. Oceanic plates are denser than continental plates, and they have a higher iron content. Since they are denser, oceanic plates always sink below the continental plate in the event of a collision.


When oceanic plates collide with continental plates the oceanic plate goes under the continental plate because?

The oceanic plate subduct under the continental because oceanic is made from basalt(rock) which is denser than andesite and granite(continental)


Why do oceanic plates dive underneath continental plates when they collide?

this is because the oceanic plate is much denser than the continental plate so when they collide the oceanic plate will sink easily


Why do oceanic plates move under continental plates when the two collide?

Oceanic plates move under continental plates when they converge together because the oceanic plate is more denser than the continental plate.


Which is denser Oceanic Crust or Continental Crust?

The Oceanic crust is denser than the continental crust


When a more dense oceanic plate sinks under continental plate?

This is called a destructive plate boundary. It occurs due to the fact that the oceanic crust is far denser than the continental crust. As a result it subducts into the mantle and is incenerated. Hope it helped:)


Do continental plates move faster than oceanic plates?

No, oceanic plates move faster than continental plates. This is due to the density of the oceanic plates (basalt is denser). For example, the fastest moving plates are the Pacific plate, Cocos plate, and Nazca plate. All oceanic.


What happens with a plate of oceanic crust collides with a plate of continental crust?

The oceanic plate is made of denser (and thinner) rock than the continental crust, so the oceanic plate gets subducted (pushed underneath) where it descends and gets melted by geothermal heat.


A seafloor plate collides with a continal plate.what will happen?

The oceanic plate (sea-floor plate) is denser than the continental plate, so the oceanic plate will be pulled under the continental plate (subduction) and into the upper mantle, creating an underwater volcano.


Why does oceanic crust dive underneath continental crust?

This process is known as subduction and occurs at convergent plate boundaries because oceanic crust is denser than continental crust.


Oceanic crust is what than continental crust?

Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust.