Question

What are the main types of plate boundaries?

Answer 1

The main plate boundaries are convergent, divergent, and transform.

Explanation:

1. A convergent boundary happens when two plates are moving towards each other: one plate is subducted below another or mountains are formed.
2. A divergent boundary happens when two plates are moving away from each other.
3. A transform boundary happens when two plates move away from a divergent plate boundary.

India and Asia collided on two different plates a very long time ago and the Himalaya Mountains were formed (and are still growing as the two plates continue to collide). This is an example of a convergent boundary.

An excellent example of a transform boundary is the San Andreas Fault. Check out this site for more information on transform faults and an animation of the San Andreas Fault.

If you look at a map of Africa, you can see an example of a divergent boundary on land where two plates are moving away from each other. The Arabian Plate is splitting or moving away from mainland Africa due to a mid-ocean ridge between the two where new oceanic crust forms.