Explain the three basic types of plate movement. How do differences in density help to explain what happens at each boundary and the types of features we see at the Earth’s surface, such as ocean rifts, mountain belts, and volcanoes? Which tectonic boundaries result in the formation of volcanoes? Which do not? Why don’t volcanoes form in all tectonic settings?
Plate movement is the sliding of Earth’s lithosphere (Earth’s outer layer) over the mantle layer. This action results in the formation of Earth’s features, such as mountain ranges and continental drift. Generally, plate movements are influenced by different forces on the Earth’s plates; these forces may be classified as either...