Explain how a mountain range, such as the Rocky Mountains, forms at a plate boundary. (1 pt) Name the type of boundary it forms at. (1 pt) In what direction are the plates moving relative to each other? (1 pt) How does this moving cause the mountains to form?

Answer 1

Mountain ranges like the Rocky Mountains typically form at convergent plate boundaries. (1 pt) At these boundaries, tectonic plates move towards each other. (1 pt)

When two tectonic plates collide, especially if one is an oceanic plate and the other is a continental plate (or if both are continental plates), the collision results in significant geological activity. If an oceanic plate is involved, it is often forced beneath the continental plate in a process called subduction. This leads to the formation of volcanic mountains as magma rises. If the colliding plates are both continental, their crusts can crumple and fold, creating large mountain ranges through processes of uplift and folding. The immense pressure and friction from the colliding plates cause the crust to thicken, which results in the elevation of the mountain range. Thus, the movement of the plates towards one another is a key factor in the formation of mountains.