Plate Tectonics: Convergent Boundaries

tectonic plates

pieces of the lithosphere that move slowly on the asthenosphere

plate boundaries

places where plates meet: divergent, convergent, transform

divergent boundary

plates move apart and magma rises to create new crust

new crust

forming at divergent boundaries when magma cools

mid atlantic ridge

long underwater mountain chain created by plates pulling apart

iceland

island located on a divergent boundary; land is splitting apart

crust recycling

new crust forms at divergent zones while old crust is destroyed elsewhere

convergent boundary

plates move together (opposite of divergent)

transform boundary

plates slide past each other sideways

key idea

earth’s crust is constantly created and recycled as plates move