Seneca
Sign up

Diagnostic Misconceptions - Sliding Plates

Geography: Cambridge International GCSE (2027 Exams), topic 4.2.9

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.
Constructive plate margins

Constructive plate margins

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

Test yourself on Diagnostic Misconceptions - Sliding Plates

  • What do we call the irregularly shaped pieces of rock that float on top of the mantle?

  • What process causes the majority of earthquakes to happen?

  • What is the pressure between tectonic plates released as during an earthquake?

Practise this topic for free