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Why is the main reason that oceanic crust is heavier than continental crust?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Oceanic crust is mafic in composition and continental crust is felsic in composition. Mafic minerals generally have a higher density than felsic minerals and therefore, the oceanic crust is heavier.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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What accounts for the difference in density between oceanic and continental crust?
The oceanic is heavier
When a continental crustal plate collides with an oceanic crustal plate the continental crust is forced to move over the oceanic crust What is the primary reason that the continental crust stays on?
Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust.
What happens when a plate of oceanic crust collides with a plate of the continental crust and why does this happen?
The oceanic crust will slide under the continental crust. And the reason is because the oceanic crust is much denser and the continental crust is least dense.
What are two differences between the oceanic crust and the continental crust?
The oceanic crust consists of heavier rock, mostly Basalt, so that if a oceanic plate collides with a continental plate the oceanic plate will be forced down below the continental plate, forming island arcs.continental plates are thicker than oceanic plates.
What is the difference of continental crust and oceanic crust?
Two differences are that the oceanic crust is more dense than continental, and continental crust is composed mostly of granite, while oceanic is mostly basalt
What is difference of the continental crust and the oceanic crust?
Continental crust is thicker but less dense, and oceanic crust is thinner but more dense, making it heavier.
What happens when a heavier oceanic crust collides with a continental crust?
Trench
Oceanic crust is lighter than the continental crust?
No, the oceanic crust is denser. That's why the land areas "float" so much higher than the ocean bedrock.
What accounts for the difference in density between oceanic and continental crust?
The oceanic is heavier
Which type of crust is heavier and younger?
Oceanic crust is both denser (and therefore heavier) and younger than continental crust.
What is meant by continental crust and oceanic crust?
They are two different types of crust. Continental crust is heavier than Oceanic crust, so when the two collide, the Continental crust 'subducts' under the Oceanic Crust. 'Crust' referring to the tectonic plates, the surface of the Earth we stand on.
When a continental crustal plate collides with an oceanic crustal plate the continental crust is forced to move over the oceanic crust What is the primary reason that the continental crust stays on?
Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust.
What happens when a plate of oceanic crust collides with a plate of the continental crust and why does this happen?
The oceanic crust will slide under the continental crust. And the reason is because the oceanic crust is much denser and the continental crust is least dense.
Why are continental plates less dense than oceanic plates kids answer?
Continental crust and continental crust are made of different types of rock. The rocks in the continental crust do not contain as many of the heavier elements as the ones in the oceanic crust do.
What are two differences between the oceanic crust and the continental crust?
The oceanic crust consists of heavier rock, mostly Basalt, so that if a oceanic plate collides with a continental plate the oceanic plate will be forced down below the continental plate, forming island arcs.continental plates are thicker than oceanic plates.
What are the two differences between the continental crust and the oceanic crust?
The oceanic crust consists of heavier rock, mostly Basalt, so that if a oceanic plate collides with a continental plate the oceanic plate will be forced down below the continental plate, forming island arcs.continental plates are thicker than oceanic plates.
What is the difference of continental crust and oceanic crust?
Two differences are that the oceanic crust is more dense than continental, and continental crust is composed mostly of granite, while oceanic is mostly basalt
