Divergent Boundaries Worksheet

Are you seeking a comprehensive and engaging resource to help your students grasp the concepts of divergent boundaries? Look no further! Our Divergent Boundaries Worksheet is designed to provide a thorough understanding of this geological phenomenon, making it an ideal tool for educators teaching middle school and high school Earth science.

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What is a divergent boundary?

A divergent boundary is a tectonic plate boundary where two plates move away from each other, leading to the creation of new crust as magma rises to fill the gap. This process often results in the formation of mid-ocean ridges, where volcanic activity and seismic events are common due to the movement of the plates.

Where do divergent boundaries occur?

Divergent boundaries occur along mid-ocean ridges and continental rift zones where tectonic plates are moving away from each other.

How do tectonic plates move at divergent boundaries?

At divergent boundaries, tectonic plates move apart from each other due to the upwelling of magma from the mantle, creating new crust as it cools and solidifies. This process is known as seafloor spreading, where the newly formed crust pushes the plates on either side of the boundary away from each other, resulting in the separation of the plates and the formation of new oceanic crust.

What type of plate boundary is formed at a divergent boundary?

A divergent boundary is where two tectonic plates move away from each other. This boundary type is characterized by the formation of new crust as magma rises to fill the gap created by the moving plates.

What are the characteristics of a mid-ocean ridge?

A mid-ocean ridge is a long, continuous underwater mountain range that forms at divergent plate boundaries where tectonic plates are moving apart. Characteristics of mid-ocean ridges include volcanic activity, with magma rising up to create new oceanic crust, hydrothermal vents that support unique ecosystems, high heat flow from the Earth's mantle, and younger rocks near the ridge crest gradually getting older as they move away from it.

What landforms are created by divergent boundaries on land?

Divergent boundaries on land create landforms such as rift valleys, where the Earth's crust is being pulled apart and creating a depression with steep cliffs on either side. Additionally, fissures or cracks can also form in the crust as it separates, allowing magma to rise and form new volcanic activity. Examples of landforms created by divergent boundaries on land include the East African Rift Valley and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

How are rift valleys formed at divergent boundaries?

Rift valleys are formed at divergent boundaries when two tectonic plates move away from each other, creating tensional stress that leads to the thinning, stretching, and eventual splitting of the Earth's crust. As the crust pulls apart, it can form a large depression known as a rift valley. Magma from the mantle rises to the surface along the rift, creating new crust and causing further separation of the plates. Over time, the rift valley can widen and deepen, eventually leading to the formation of a new ocean basin if the process continues.

What types of volcanoes are commonly found at divergent boundaries?

Volcanoes commonly found at divergent boundaries are shield volcanoes and fissure vents. Shield volcanoes are broad with gentle slopes, formed by the outpouring of low-viscosity basaltic lava, while fissure vents are long cracks in the Earth's surface from which lava erupts, often creating extensive lava fields. These types of volcanoes are associated with the upwelling of magma at mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates are moving apart.

What are hydrothermal vents and how are they related to divergent boundaries?

Hydrothermal vents are underwater geysers that emit hot, mineral-rich water due to volcanic activity beneath the Earth's crust. They are related to divergent boundaries because these vents are typically found along mid-ocean ridges, where tectonic plates are moving apart, creating gaps in the Earth's crust through which seawater seeps in, gets heated, and then ejected back out as hydrothermal fluid. This process not only provides a habitat for unique ecosystems that thrive in extreme conditions, but also plays a crucial role in the chemical cycles of the ocean and the overall geology of the ocean floor.

How does seafloor spreading occur at divergent boundaries?

Seafloor spreading occurs at divergent boundaries when tectonic plates move apart. As they separate, magma rises up from the mantle to fill the gap, solidifying as it cools to form new oceanic crust. This process leads to the creation of mid-ocean ridges, where the newly-formed crust pushes the older crust away from the boundary. Over time, the continuous spreading at divergent boundaries causes the ocean basin to widen and contributes to the movement of the Earth's lithosphere.