what type of plate boundary can create the weakest earthquakes

Transform boundary
Convergent boundary
Divergent boundary

1 answer

Among the three types of plate boundaries—transform, convergent, and divergent—the divergent boundary typically produces the weakest earthquakes.

  • Transform boundaries occur where plates slide past one another, and can generate significant friction, leading to moderate to strong earthquakes (e.g., San Andreas Fault).
  • Convergent boundaries involve the collision of tectonic plates, often resulting in powerful earthquakes due to the intensity of the interaction, especially in subduction zones.
  • Divergent boundaries, where tectonic plates move apart (as seen at mid-ocean ridges), generally produce less intense earthquakes because the tectonic activity is associated with the creation of new crust rather than the destruction or frictional sliding seen at the other two boundaries.

Thus, the answer is divergent boundary.