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with all that water pushing down on the plate, one of the plates has to go under. the one that is sliding under the top plate is usually the one that goes under. <3 hope this helps:)

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Q: When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate the oceanic plate is usually subducted because?
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Why is the oceanic plate subducted when an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate?

The Oceanic plate is subducted under the Continental plate because oceanic crust is much more dense than continental crust. The average density of the oceanic crust is 3g/cm^3 while the average density of continental crust is 2.7g/cm^3.


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.


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.


What occurs when a continental plate collides with an oceanic plate and overtakes it?

When a continental plate collides with an oceanic plate and overtakes it, this is known as subduction.


Why oceanic crust is always subducted underneath continental crust?

Due to the higher density of the oceanic crust it is subducted underneath the continental crust.


What happens when a plate of oceanic crust collides with a plate of oceanic 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.


Why is oceanic lithosphere subducted while continental lithosphere is not?

The density of the continental (granitic) lithosphere is lower than oceanic (basaltic) lithosphere. Consequently, due to buoyancy, the continental crust rides above the oceanic lithosphere and thus is not subducted. However, it is thought that pieces of the continental lithosphere break off and are subducted along with the oceanic lithosphere.


When an ocean plate collides with a continental plate it does what?

It subducts under the continental plate because the oceanic plate is denser.


What occures when a continental and oceanic plate collide?

At some convergent boundaries, an oceanic plate collides with acontinental plate. Oceanic crust tends to be denser and thinner thancontinentalcrust, so the denser oceanic crust gets bent and pulled under, or subducted, beneath the lighter and thicker continental crust. This forms what is called a subduction zone.


Why is oceanic lithosphere subducted during and oceanic continental collision where as the continental plate is not?

the oceanic plate is less bouyant so it slides under the continental plate


Why is oceanic crust always subducted underneath the continental crust?

Oceanic crust subducts under continental crust because it is denser. Continental crust's density is too low for it to be forced into the mantle.


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.