A group of students are planning to develop a model demonstrating the movement of tectonic plates and the formation of landforms. The group of students decides to use blocks of clay to represent tectonic plates.

Question

Which model would best represent a divergent boundary?

two blocks of clay collide and push up
two blocks of clay slide past each other
two blocks of clay move away from each other
two blocks of clay stay one placed on top of the other

Answer 1

The best model to represent a divergent boundary is two blocks of clay move away from each other. In a divergent boundary, tectonic plates move apart, creating new crust as magma rises to the surface, which is characteristic of mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.