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Continental and oceanic plates give our planet a solid surface upon which we can have ecosystems habitable by people and other organisms. Without the plates, we are left with the mantle, which is composed of hot, melted rock, upon which nothing could live.

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Convergent boundaries can be divided into 3 categories what are these categories and what geological feature are created by each?

The categories are a continental and a continental plate colliding, continental and oceanic plates colliding, and oceanic and oceanic plates colliding. The two continental plates form mountains. The continental and oceanic plated colliding cause subduction zones and volcanoes. Oceanic and oceanic plates colliding form a trench.


Convergence can occur between what types of plates?

Convergence can occur between oceanic-oceanic, oceanic-continental, and continental-continental plates. This process typically leads to the formation of mountain ranges, deep ocean trenches, and volcanic arcs.


Are continental plates more buoyant than oceanic plates?

Yes, continental plates are more buoyant than oceanic plates because they are thicker and less dense. Continental plates are made up of less dense material such as granite, while oceanic plates are primarily composed of denser basaltic rock. This difference in density causes continental plates to float higher on the underlying mantle.


What is the difference between oceanic and continental plates?

Continental plates are thicker and less dense. Continental plates are mainly granitic in composition. Oceanic plates are mainly basaltic in composition. The rock of continental plates is on average, much older than the rock of the oceanic plates. The oceanic plate underlies the oceans, and the continental plate makes up the land masses. Continental plates do not subduct at convergent plate boundaries.


Do tectonic plates consist of continental or oceanic crust?

Tectonic plates consist of both continental and oceanic crust. The Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large and small plates that constantly move and interact with each other. Some plates are predominantly made up of continental crust, while others are mostly composed of oceanic crust.

Related Questions

Why are oceanic plates lower than continental plates?

Oceanic plates are denser and thinner than continental plates, which causes them to be lower in elevation. The denser oceanic plates are effectively pulled downward by gravity, causing them to sink beneath the less dense continental plates. This difference in density and thickness results in oceanic plates being lower than continental plates.


How do the mountains that form along an oceanic-oceanic convergent boundary differ from those associated with an oceanic continental convergent boundary?

the oceanic plates are denser than continental plates, therefore, when oceanic plates and continental plates converge, the oceanic will go under the continental plates. But when two oceanic converge either both will rise to form moutains, or both will sink and cause a trench.


Convergent boundaries can be divided into 3 categories what are these categories and what geological feature are created by each?

The categories are a continental and a continental plate colliding, continental and oceanic plates colliding, and oceanic and oceanic plates colliding. The two continental plates form mountains. The continental and oceanic plated colliding cause subduction zones and volcanoes. Oceanic and oceanic plates colliding form a trench.


Which is more buoyant a continental plate or oceanic plate?

Continental plates are more buoyant then oceanic plates.


Which type of plate is thicker continental or oceanic?

Continental plates are generally thicker than oceanic plates. Continental plates can range from 20-200 km thick, while oceanic plates are typically around 5-10 km thick.


Name two types of tectonic plates?

Oceanic plates are denser and thinner, found beneath the oceans, while continental plates are thicker and less dense, making up the Earth's landmasses. These two types of tectonic plates interact at boundaries, influencing processes like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.


Convergence can occur between what types of plates?

Convergence can occur between oceanic-oceanic, oceanic-continental, and continental-continental plates. This process typically leads to the formation of mountain ranges, deep ocean trenches, and volcanic arcs.


Name the two types of lithospheric plates?

There are two types of lithosphere: the oceanic lithosphere and the continental lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere exists in the ocean basins while the continental lithosphere exists in the continental crust.


Why is an oceanic plate always subducted but not a continental plate?

Continental plates are lighter (less dense) than oceanic plates.


Why do oceanic plates and a continental plates meet?

they bang


How do the mountains that form along an oceanic oceanic convergent boundary differ from those associated with an oceanic continental convergent boundary?

the oceanic plates are denser than continental plates, therefore, when oceanic plates and continental plates converge, the oceanic will go under the continental plates. But when two oceanic converge either both will rise to form moutains, or both will sink and cause a trench.


Are continental plates more buoyant than oceanic plates?

Yes, continental plates are more buoyant than oceanic plates because they are thicker and less dense. Continental plates are made up of less dense material such as granite, while oceanic plates are primarily composed of denser basaltic rock. This difference in density causes continental plates to float higher on the underlying mantle.