Which statement describes what occurs at a divergent plate boundary?

Which statement describes what occurs at a divergent plate boundary?

• A. Plates move toward each other causing earthquakes
• B. Plates slide past one another, leading to volcanic activity
• C. Plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and create new crust
• D. Plates collide, forming mountains or deep trenches

Answer: (C)

At a divergent plate boundary, tectonic plates move apart from each other. This movement creates a gap that allows magma from the mantle to rise to the Earth's surface. When this magma erupts and cools, it solidifies to form new oceanic crust. This process is commonly observed at mid-ocean ridges, where the seafloor is continuously formed and expanded. As the plates separate, it also often leads to seismic activity, but the defining characteristic of a divergent boundary is the creation of new crust between the diverging plates. The other options describe different types of plate interactions: convergence, where plates collide, and transform boundaries, where they slide past one another. Thus, the statement about plates moving apart and allowing magma to rise accurately captures the essence of what occurs at divergent boundaries.

At a divergent plate boundary, tectonic plates move apart from each other. This movement creates a gap that allows magma from the mantle to rise to the Earth's surface. When this magma erupts and cools, it solidifies to form new oceanic crust. This process is commonly observed at mid-ocean ridges, where the seafloor is continuously formed and expanded. As the plates separate, it also often leads to seismic activity, but the defining characteristic of a divergent boundary is the creation of new crust between the diverging plates. The other options describe different types of plate interactions: convergence, where plates collide, and transform boundaries, where they slide past one another. Thus, the statement about plates moving apart and allowing magma to rise accurately captures the essence of what occurs at divergent boundaries.