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Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust.

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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.


Why does the continental crust float higher on the athenosphere than oceanic crust?

The continental crust is less dense and thicker than oceanic crust, allowing it to float higher on the asthenosphere. This is because the continental crust is composed of less dense rock types like granite, while the oceanic crust is made up of denser basalt. As a result, the less dense continental crust floats higher due to its lower density and greater thickness compared to oceanic crust.


Why does continental crusts stand higher on the mantle then oceanic crust?

Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust because it is made up of mostly granitic rocks, while oceanic crust is composed of denser basaltic rocks. This difference in density causes continental crust to "float" higher on the underlying mantle, creating land above sea level.


What happends when an oceanic plate goes under a continental plate?

When an oceanic plate goes under a continental plate in a process called subduction, the oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle due to its higher density. This creates a subduction zone where the oceanic plate melts and forms magma, leading to volcanic activity. The continental plate is usually uplifted, creating mountain ranges.


Continental crust and the difference between oceanic crust?

Oceanic crust is mostly basaltic, which is denser, while continental crust is made from mostly basaltic and sedimentary rocks, which are less dense. This difference in density is why the oceanic crust sinks lower (thus the oceans) and the continental crust rides higher (thus the continents) on the mantle.

Related Questions

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.


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 is the difference between continentalcrust and the oceanic?

Continental crust is thicker and less dense while oceanic crust is thinner and more dense, so essentially continental crust takes a higher position than oceanic crust. When oceanic and continental plates collide, oceanic plates slide underneath continental plates(if this makes what I said any clearer).


Why is continental crust situated at an higher elevation than the oceanic crust?

Continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust, making it sit higher above sea level. The buoyant nature of continental crust allows it to rise above the denser oceanic crust, resulting in higher elevations on land.


Why does the continental crust float higher on the mantle than on the oceanic crust?

Continental crust is less dense and thicker than oceanic crust, causing it to float higher on the mantle. The continental crust is also compositionally different, with a greater amount of less dense materials like granite compared to the basaltic composition of oceanic crust. This difference in density and composition results in the continental crust floating higher on the mantle.


Why does the continental crust float higher on the athenosphere than oceanic crust?

The continental crust is less dense and thicker than oceanic crust, allowing it to float higher on the asthenosphere. This is because the continental crust is composed of less dense rock types like granite, while the oceanic crust is made up of denser basalt. As a result, the less dense continental crust floats higher due to its lower density and greater thickness compared to oceanic crust.


How does the density of oceanic crust differ from that of continental crust?

Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust because it is primarily composed of basalt, which is a mafic rock with a higher density than the felsic rocks that make up continental crust. Additionally, oceanic crust is thinner and younger than continental crust, contributing to its higher density.


Is the density low or high for the oceanic crust?

The density of oceanic crust is generally higher than continental crust due to its composition of mostly basaltic rock. This higher density causes oceanic crust to be thinner and denser, leading to its subduction beneath continental crust at convergent plate boundaries.


How do the densities of oceanic crust and continental crust influence what happens when an oceanic plate coverages with a continental plate?

Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust. All that water weight compresses the heck out of the material in the plate and also the oceanic crust contains larger percentages of denser elements such as magnesium and iron than the continental crust which also contributes to it's higher density. This sets the conditions for what happens. The more dense oceanic crust will "dive under" continental crust because it is more dense, and all because of the difference in densities.


Why is oceanic denser than continental crust?

The oceanic crust is composed mainly of basalt, rich in iron and magnesium. The continental crust is composed mainly of granite, rich in aluminum. Although they are both rich in oxygen and silicon, the rocks that compose the oceanic crust are of higher density than the rocks that compose the continental crust.


What and the difference between oceanic and continental?

Oceanic crust is mostly basaltic, which is denser, while continental crust is made from mostly basaltic and sedimentary rocks, which are less dense. This difference in density is why the oceanic crust sinks lower (thus the oceans) and the continental crust rides higher (thus the continents) on the mantle.


How do continental crust differ from oceanic?

Continental crust is predominantly composed mostly of rock of a granitic composition, higher in silica and aluminum, with layers of sedimentary rock above. Oceanic crust is predominantly basaltic (higher in iron and magnesium), darker, thinner, more dense, and formed from rapid cooling of lava.