At which type of plate boundary do tectonic plates slide past each other?
at oceanic-oceanic boundaries
at divergent boundaries
at convergent boundaries
at conservative plate boundaries
at convergent boundaries
At which type of plate boundary do tectonic plates slide past each other?
The answer is at conservative plate boundaries.
Now, let me explain how we can arrive at this answer:
1. First, we need to understand the different types of plate boundaries:
- Divergent boundaries: where tectonic plates move apart from each other. This typically occurs at mid-oceanic ridges, where new crust is formed.
- Convergent boundaries: where tectonic plates collide with each other. This can lead to subduction, where one plate is forced beneath another, or to the formation of mountain ranges.
- Transform boundaries: where tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally, without generating or destroying crust.
2. In the given options, we can exclude divergent and convergent boundaries because they involve plates moving towards or away from each other, and not just sliding past each other.
3. This leaves us with the option of conservative plate boundaries. At conservative boundaries, such as the famous San Andreas Fault in California, tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other. These boundaries are characterized by frequent earthquakes, as the plates are locked together, and when they finally slip, it releases energy in the form of seismic waves.
Thus, based on our understanding of plate boundaries, we can conclude that tectonic plates slide past each other at conservative plate boundaries.