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Earthquakes at Plate Margins

Geography: Cambridge International GCSE (2027 Exams), topic 4.1.5

Earthquakes at Different Plate Margins

Earthquakes can happen at all 3 types of plate margin: conservative, constructive and destructive.

Conservative plate margins

Conservative plate margins

  • When plates move past each other, there can be friction between them because the plates are not smooth.
  • When the pressure is enough, the plates give way. This causes the plates to move past each other and the ground to shake.
Destructive plate margins

Destructive plate margins

  • At destructive margins, the oceanic plate can get stuck as it is forced under the continental plate. This can cause tension to build.
Constructive plate margins

Constructive plate margins

  • At constructive margins, pressure can build up from cracks in the plates when they move apart.

Test yourself on Earthquakes at Plate Margins

  • What happens at destructive plate margins?

  • At which plate margins can earthquakes happen?

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