Tectonic Plate Motion

The majority of movement of tectonic plates occurs at the plate boundaries; these are narrow zones between the plates where the tectonic forces are most evident.

There are four different types of tectonic plate boundaries.

1. Convergent Boundaries - Plates coming together
2. Divergent Boundaries - Plates moving apart
3. Transform Boundaries - Plates moving side by side or sliding past each other
4. Plate Boundary Zones - Areas where boundaries are poorly defined and the effects
   of plate interactions unclear.

 

The different types of tectonic plate motions are explained in the animation below: