Question
How do plates move at a transform boundary?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
At a transform boundary, tectonic plates move horizontally past one another. This lateral motion occurs without significant vertical movement, causing stress to accumulate along faults due to friction. When the stress exceeds the strength of the rocks, it is released in the form of earthquakes.
Transform boundaries are characterized by features like strike-slip faults, where the movement is primarily horizontal. The motion is generally parallel to the boundary, and the plates can either slide alongside each other or can get locked due to friction, causing pressure to build up until it is released suddenly.
A well-known example of a transform boundary is the San Andreas Fault in California, where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate slide past each other. This type of boundary is crucial for understanding seismic activity in regions near transform faults.
Transform boundaries are characterized by features like strike-slip faults, where the movement is primarily horizontal. The motion is generally parallel to the boundary, and the plates can either slide alongside each other or can get locked due to friction, causing pressure to build up until it is released suddenly.
A well-known example of a transform boundary is the San Andreas Fault in California, where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate slide past each other. This type of boundary is crucial for understanding seismic activity in regions near transform faults.