Plate Boundaries

Plate Boundaries
Plate tectonics is a theory that explains the surface of the earth is broken into large
and small lithospheric plates that are moving constantly and slowly. The size and
position of these plates change as years pass by. They move against each other at their
edges causing intense geologic activity, such as earthquakes, volcanism, and mountain
building.
The figure shows large and small
lithospheric plates, including the Philippine
Plate. These plates are moving very slowly
but constantly. The movement of the plate is
called Tectonic.
PLATE BOUNDARIES are the lines

at the edges of the different pieces of the
lithosphere. Lithospheric plates are moving
due to the convection current in the Earth’s
interior. The lithosphere is made up of
the crust and upper part of the mantle. There are two types of crusts: the continental
crust which is thicker but less dense, and the oceanic crust, which is thinner and denser.
According to the Plate Tectonic Theory, the Earth’s lithosphere consists of the crust
and upper mantle that move slowly and constantly over time. This movement causes the
formation of plate boundaries namely: divergent, convergent, and transform fault
boundaries.
(a) Divergent Boundary is formed when two tectonic

plates move apart from each other creating
tension. Molten rocks called magma to rise from
the Earth’s mantle to the surface. The Earth’s
surface is cool enough to solidify the magma
that rose , thus, creating new oceanic crust or
seafloor. A divergent boundary is also known
as a constructive boundary. The mid-ocean ridge is formed by the divergence
between oceanic plates while continental rift valley is formed between
continental plates. Rift valley can also be found at the bottom of the ocean
where seafloor spreading occurs. Both the formation of mid-ocean ridge
and rift valley had the occurrence of an earthquake. Examples are boundaries
between South American plate and African plate, Pacific Plate and Nazca Plate,
and North American Plate and Eurasian Plate.
(b) Convergent boundary is formed when two

plates move toward each other. This boundary
has three types: (1) Oceanic plate - Continental
plate boundary, (2) Two Oceanic plates boundary,
and (3) Two Continental plates boundary.
In oceanic-continental plates boundary and

two oceanic plates boundary, the oceanic plate
bends downward into the mantle through the process called subduction. The
leading edge of the subducted plate melts in the mantle and magmarises
forming a continental volcanic arc in oceanic-continental plate boundary,
which is parallel to the trench that is formed due to subduction. While in
two oceanic plates boundary, island volcanic chain is formed parallel to
the trench. An earthquake occurs in both type of boundaries. Since the
oceanic plate is destroyed at the convergent boundary, this boundary is
also called a destructive boundary. Examples are boundaries between the
Eurasian plate and the Philippine plate, Nazca Plate and South American
Plate, and Pacific Plate and Australian Plate. With two continental plates
converging, a compression zone is formed. Both plates collide and buckle
up causing mountain ranges such as the Himalayas mountain ranges.
There is no subduction, no trench, and no volcanoes formed in this type of
convergent boundary.
Types of Convergent Boundaries
Figure 5: Oceanic-Continental Plate Figure 6: Two Oceanic Plates

Convergent Boundary Convergent
Boundary
Figure 7: Two Continental Plates

Convergent
Boundary
(c) Transform fault boundary is formed when two

plates are sliding past each other. It is also
called the Strike-slip fault. Rocks that line the
boundary split into pieces as the plates slip at
each other. A crack is then formed creating an
undersea canyon or linear fault valley. San
Andreas Fault is an example of this.
Activity: Find the Boundary on the Map!
The seven major plates are African plate, Antarctic plate, Eurasian plate,
Australian plate, North American plate, Pacific plate, and South American plate. Plate
boundaries are formed between these plates. Can you identify them?
What you have to do
The figure below shows the relative motion of the plates as indicated by the arrows.
Study the direction of the arrows on the map. Identify the plates that lie on the divergent,
convergent, and transform fault boundaries.
Map of the Plate Boundaries
Assessment
Directions: Use a separate sheet of paper for your answers. Write the correct word/s from
the choices inside the parenthesis to complete the sentence in each given item.
1. Pacific plate and Nazca plate formed (convergent, divergent)

boundary.
2. San Andreas Fault is a transform fault boundary found in (South

American plate, North American plate) .
3. Philippine plate moves toward (African plate, Eurasian plate)

at the convergent boundary.
4. (Convergent, Divergent) is the type of boundary between

Australian plate and African plate.
5. The type of boundary between Pacific plate and Antarctic plate is

(convergent, divergent) boundary.
Directions: Summarize what you have learned from the lesson and activities by
completing the sentences using the words from the box. You can only use each word once.
Use a separate sheet of paper for your answers.
continental theory geologic divergent

lithosphere plates subduction convection current
slowly denser toward two continental plates
two oceanic plates oceanic plate-continental plate transform fault
(1) is made of earth’s crust and upper mantle. It is subdivided

into portions called (2) that move above the mantle. The two kinds
of crust are (3) crust, which is thicker but less dense, and
oceanic crust, which is thinner but (4) . A (5) that the
Earth’s crust is made up of plates moving (6) and interact in various
ways is Plate Tectonics. The interaction of the plates produces earthquakes,
mountains, volcanoes, and other (7) features. (8)
from the Earth’s interior makes the plates move above the
mantle. This movement causes the formation of three types of plate
boundaries which are (9) boundary, two plates sliding
each other; (10) boundary, two plates moving away from each
other and convergent boundary which plates are moving (11) each
other. Three types of convergent boundaries are (12)
convergent boundary which forms volcanic island arc, (13)
convergent boundary forming a continental
volcanic arc, and (14) convergent boundary
wherein there is no ( 1 5 ) .

Plate Boundaries

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Plate Boundaries

PLATE BOUNDARIES are the lines

(a) Divergent Boundary is formed when two tectonic

(b) Convergent boundary is formed when two

In oceanic-continental plates boundary and

Figure 5: Oceanic-Continental Plate Figure 6: Two Oceanic Plates

Figure 7: Two Continental Plates

(c) Transform fault boundary is formed when two

Map of the Plate Boundaries

1. Pacific plate and Nazca plate formed (convergent, divergent)

2. San Andreas Fault is a transform fault boundary found in (South

3. Philippine plate moves toward (African plate, Eurasian plate)

4. (Convergent, Divergent) is the type of boundary between

5. The type of boundary between Pacific plate and Antarctic plate is

continental theory geologic divergent

(1) is made of earth’s crust and upper mantle. It is subdivided

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