What happens when two plates bump against each other?

Answer 1

There are four things that can happen when the edges of plates meet: # slip- two plates slide past each other. # spreading- two plates move apart from each other. # collision- two plates crash and fold up. # subduction- one plate sinks below the other.

Answer 2

That depends on what type of tectonic plates they are! If one is a continental plate and the other is oceanic then the denser and heavier oceanic plate will be pushed down under the lighter continental plate. There will also be some buckling of the oceanic and continental crust which creates fold mountains. Where the oceanic plate sinks into the mantle it may start to melt and this material will rise up through the overlying continental crust and eventually erupt on the surface forming volcanoes. This is occurring along the north western edge of the US and is responsible for the formation of the Cascade range volcanoes such as Mt St Helens.

In some places the down going plate can become jammed against the overlying plate. This causes pressure to build up until the plate slips again and causes a sudden slip. The energy released when this occurs is an earthquake.

If two continental plates collide they are both too buoyant (they want to float) for one to be forced under the other and so they both buckle and form large mountain chains and can also cause large earthquakes. The best example of this sort of plate collision is that between the Indian and Eurasian plates which has created the Himalayas.

Answer 3

Earthquakes could happen if 2 plates bump into each other. This is because there is a lot of energy in this reaction.

Answer 4

Plate tectonics is responsible for many things including the formation of volcanoes and islands. When two plates bump into each other an earthquake can occur.

Answer 5

an earthquake could start and it could cause a destruction.

Answer 6

seduction

Answer 7

unknown