1. Convergent Boundaries: Plates collide with each other. This can result in several outcomes:
* Subduction: One denser plate slides beneath the other, creating volcanic arcs, deep ocean trenches, and mountain ranges like the Andes.
* Continental Collision: When two continental plates collide, they buckle and fold, creating massive mountain ranges like the Himalayas.
* Ocean-Ocean Convergence: One oceanic plate subducts beneath another, often leading to volcanic island arcs like the Philippines.
2. Divergent Boundaries: Plates move apart from each other. This causes:
* Seafloor Spreading: Magma rises from the mantle to fill the gap, creating new oceanic crust and mid-ocean ridges.
* Continental Rifting: Continental plates can pull apart, leading to rift valleys, volcanoes, and eventually the formation of new ocean basins.
3. Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other horizontally. This can cause:
* Earthquakes: The sliding motion is often jerky, generating seismic energy along the fault line. The San Andreas Fault in California is a famous example.
* Offsetting features: Transform boundaries can displace features like mid-ocean ridges and mountain ranges.
These interactions are dynamic and ongoing, shaping the Earth's surface and influencing its geological history.
