Asked by dyd

Think-Pair-Share: Based on the video, what do you think a divergent (constructive) boundary is? How do the plates interact with each other?

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
A divergent (constructive) boundary is where two tectonic plates move away from each other and new crust is formed as magma rises up to fill the gap.

How the plates interact:
- They pull apart (tension), creating a gap between them.
- Mantle material (magma) upwells into that gap, cools, and solidifies into new oceanic crust or volcanic rock.
- The process pushes older crust outward on both sides (seafloor spreading).
- Movement produces normal faults, rift valleys (on continents) or mid-ocean ridges (under the sea), shallow earthquakes, and volcanic activity (usually basaltic).

Examples: Mid‑Atlantic Ridge (oceanic) and the East African Rift (continental).

Short shareable summary: “A divergent boundary is where plates move apart and magma rises to make new crust, forming rifts, ridges, earthquakes, and volcanoes.”