Explain how a mountain range, such as the Rocky Mountains, forms at a plate boundary.

Question

(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?

Remember to use the RAD method when answering
R-Restate the question
A-Answer the question
D- Add details to support and explain your answer
(3 points)

Answer 1

R: The question is about how a mountain range, like the Rocky Mountains, forms at a plate boundary.

A: The Rocky Mountains form at a convergent plate boundary.

D: At a convergent plate boundary, two tectonic plates move toward each other. Specifically, in the case of the Rocky Mountains, the North American Plate is colliding with the Pacific Plate, as well as interacting with smaller plates such as the Juan de Fuca Plate. As these plates move toward one another, the immense pressure and friction can cause one plate to be forced beneath another in a process called subduction, or they may crumple and fold together if both are continental plates. This collision leads to the uplift of the Earth's crust, which results in the formation of mountain ranges like the Rockies. In addition to uplift, volcanic activity often accompanies these boundaries, contributing to the growth and complexity of mountainous regions. Over geological time, the continual movement and collision of these plates shape the rugged landscape of the Rocky Mountains.

Answer 2

Put it in one Scentence

Answer 3

The Rocky Mountains form at a convergent plate boundary where the North American Plate is colliding with the Pacific Plate, causing the uplift of the Earth's crust due to the immense pressure from the plates moving toward each other.