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In plate tectonics, a divergent boundary or divergent plate boundary (also known as a constructive boundary or an extensional boundary) is a linear feature that exists between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other.
Feb 15, 2021 · Divergent plate boundaries are locations where tensional forces are pulling things apart. In locations where lithospheric plates are diverging, the rates of divergent motion range from 2 to 17 cm/year. Spreading Centers along Divergent Plate Boundaries.
At divergent boundaries, sometimes called constructive boundaries, lithospheric plates move away from each other. There are two types of divergent boundaries, categorized by where they occur: continental rift zones and mid-ocean ridges.
Divergent plate boundaries are locations where plates are moving away from one another above rising convection currents. Learn about the effects of divergent boundaries on the Earth's internal structure, such as submarine mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes and rifts. See examples of oceanic and continental divergent plate boundaries with satellite images and maps.
Divergent plate tectonic boundaries are when two tectonic plates move away from each other, creating new oceanic crust and magma. Learn about the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Pacific Ring of Fire, and other examples of divergent plate boundaries and how they form.
Learn how divergent plate boundaries form new crust and ocean ridges, and how they affect the earth's surface and history. Watch a video and read comments from students and teachers.
- 12 min
- Sal Khan
Learn how divergent boundaries form where two or more tectonic plates move apart and create new ocean basins or continents. See how continental rift valleys and mid-ocean ridges are examples of divergent boundaries and how they relate to plate tectonics and life on Earth.
