Page 235 - Big Ideas Year 10 sciPAD 2025

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SCIPAD - BIG IDEAS - BOOK 2
EARTH SYSTEMS
Plate Boundaries
There are three primary types of tectonic plate boundaries:
Divergent boundaries occur when two
plates pull apart. At divergent boundaries
new crust is created as the plates pull
away from each other. When a diverging
boundary occurs on land a ‘rift’ (separation)
will occur and, over time, the land will break
apart into smaller land masses. Divergent
boundaries occur in the middle of all of the
world’s major oceans.
Divergent Boundary
Transform boundaries occur when two
plates slide past each other. Most transform
faults are found in the oceans. However, a
few of them occur on land.
The Southern Alps in the South Island
have been formed due to the actions of
a transform boundary and a convergent
boundary. Shallow, destructive earthquakes
are associated with transform boundaries.
Transform Boundary
1. Use the information provided to draw a diagram of each type of plate boundary.
2. Suggest why:
(a) Divergent plate boundaries are often called constructive plate boundaries.




(b) Convergent plate boundaries are often called destructive plate boundaries.




Convergent boundaries occur when two
plates come together. When oceanic crust
collides with continental crust, the more
dense oceanic crust is pushed downwards,
and recycled back into the interior of the
Earth in what is known as a subduction zone.
When two continental crusts collide neither
plate may subduct and mountains may
form as both plates are pushed upwards.
New Zealand sits on top of a convergent
plate boundary.
Convergent Boundary
Oceanic - Continental Boundary Continental - Continental Boundary