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10
SCIENCE
QUARTER 1
Week 5.1

Capsulized Self-Learning Empowerment

Toolkit

Schools Division Office of Zamboanga City

Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula
Zamboanga City

“Unido, Junto avanza con el EduKalidad Cree, junto junto puede!”

WRITTEN BY: DONNA ROSE J. VARGAS

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SUBJECT & Science

QUARTER 1 WEEK 5 DAY ____________________________________
GRADE/LEVEL 10 dd/mm/yyyy

TOPIC Types of Plate Boundaries

6. Explain the processes that occur along with the divergence and
LEARNING
transform plate boundaries. (S10ES –Ia-j-36.3)
COMPETENCY
A. Divergent Boundary
IMPORTANT: Do not write anything on this material. Write your answers on the Learner’s
Activity and Assessment Sheets provided separately.

UNDERSTAND
Divergent Boundary
The Plate Tectonic Theory states that the Earth is divided into crustal plates that
continuously move relative to each other. There are 7-8 major plates and many minor plates.
The movement of these plates is caused by the convection of the hot and viscous mantle
underneath.
There are three kinds of plate tectonic boundaries: divergent, convergent and transform
plate boundaries.
This self-learning material discusses concepts that are associated with divergent plate
boundaries.
What is Divergent boundary?

The divergent boundary is a region where the crustal plates are moving apart. Along
these boundaries, earthquakes are common, and magma (molten rock) rises from the Earth’s
mantle to the surface, solidifying to create a new oceanic crust.
In plate tectonics, divergent boundaries within continents initially produce rifts,
which eventually become rift valleys.
Formation of rift valleys and oceanic ridges are indications that the crust is
spreading or splitting apart. Most divergent boundaries are situated along underwater
mountain ranges called oceanic ridges.

What are the different geologic processes that may occur in divergent
boundary?

In divergent plate boundary, convection currents in

the mantle move upwards. This upwelling of magma
splits and pushes the Earth’s crust apart.

Divergent boundaries occur at mid-ocean ridges.

Here fresh lava reaches the surface, creating
underseas mountains, volcanoes that sometimes
reach the surface as in Iceland. New crust is formed
at the mid-ocean ridges separating into two different tectonic plates.
Divergent plate boundaries are characterized by shallow earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, oceanic ridges, and very young lithosphere.

The earthquakes that occur along these zones called spreading centers are relatively
small. The formation of rift valleys like the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, The Red Sea,
and the Gulf of Aden all formed as a result of divergent plate motion.

WRITTEN BY: DONNA ROSE J. VARGAS

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What causes plates to move away from each other?

The spreading of the plates occurs because of the

rising convection currents of the mantle. The rising current
pushes up on the bottom of the lithosphere, lifting it and
flowing laterally beneath it, as shown in Figure 1. The lateral
flow causes the plates above to be dragged along the
direction of flow. This causes the plates to move apart. At the Figure 1. Convection currents
crest of the uplift, the overlying plate is stretched thin, breaks, beneath divergent plates

and pulls apart.

When the existing plate begins to divide, magma rises from deep within the Earth and
erupts to form a new oceanic crust on the lithosphere.

SAQ-1: Why do divergent boundaries occur?

What happens when oceanic plates diverge?

When a divergent boundary occurs beneath the
oceanic lithosphere, the rising convection current
below lifts the lithosphere, producing a mid-ocean
ridge. Forces stretch the lithosphere and produce a
deep crack or fissure. When the fissure opens, the
pressure is reduced on the super-heated mantle
material below. It responds by melting, and the new
magma flows into the fissure. The magma solidifies, Figure 2. Divergence of oceanic plates
and the process repeats itself forming ridges.
The following are the effects when oceanic plates move away from each other:
1. Formation of mid-ocean ridges 4. widening of ocean basins
2. volcanic activity in the form of fissure eruptions 5. creation of new seafloor
3. shallow earthquake activity

What is a mid-ocean ridge?

The mid-ocean ridge is a mountain-like structure

which is formed under the sea due to volcanic
eruptions on the ocean floor. The ridges occur along
divergent plate boundaries, where the new ocean floor
is created as the Earth’s tectonic plates spread apart.
The mid-ocean ridge system can also be described
as a global range of underwater mountains range,
formed by plate tectonics. As the two plates move
away from each other, it results in the spreading of the
seafloor as the plates move apart, new materials Figure 3. Mid Atlantic Ridge
(magma) wells up and cool onto the edge of the plate
forming the mid-ocean ridge.
Well-known ocean ridges are the Mid Atlantic
Ridge, the East Pacific Rise, the Juan de Fuca Ridge,
and the Galapagos Rise.
The best known of the divergent boundaries is the
Mid- Atlantic Ridge. This submerged mountain range,
which extends from the Arctic Ocean to beyond the
southern tip of Africa. The rate of spreading along the
Mid- Atlantic Ridge averages about 2.5 cm per year or 25km in a million years.
WRITTEN BY: DONNA ROSE J. VARGAS
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What happens when continental plates move apart?

When a divergent boundary occurs beneath a thick

continental plate, the plate arched upwards from the
convection current’s lift, pulled thin by extensional
forces, and fractured into a rift-shaped structure. As the
two plates pull apart, normal faults develop on both Figure 4. Divergence of continental
sides of the rift. Earthquakes occur as a result of the plates
fracturing and movement.
Early in the rift-forming process, streams and rivers will flow into the sinking rift valley to
form a long linear lake. As the rift grows more in-depth, it might drop below sea level, allowing
ocean waters to flow. This will produce a narrow, shallow sea within the rift. This rift can then
grow deeper and wider. If rifting continues, a new ocean basin could be produced.
Some of the popular rift valleys are the Red Sea and East African Rifts. The West Antarctic
Rift is also a rift valley.
SAQ-2: What land forms and geologic activities can occur at continental-continental divergent
boundaries?

What is a rift valley?

A rift valley is a linear-shaped lowland between several highlands or mountain ranges

created by the action of a geologic rift or fault. A rift valley is formed on a divergent plate
boundary, a crustal extension, or spreading apart of the surface, which is subsequently
further deepened by the forces of erosion.

SAQ-3: Construct a Venn-diagram on the land forms and geologic activities that occurs
between continental and between oceanic divergent plate boundaries?

(Write your answer on the separate Learner’s

Let’s Practice! Activity and Assessment sheets provided.)

I: Complete the concept map using the terms/statements in the list below
transformed divergent
continental plates oceanic plates
convergent Convection currents below the plates that
move them laterally apart
mid-ocean ridges rift valley
separation of tectonic plates East African Rifts
Mid Atlantic Ridge

WRITTEN BY: DONNA ROSE J. VARGAS

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Plate boundaries

include
include include

described
as

caused by

occurs between

forms forms

example is example is

II: Analyze the photographs of rift valleys (topmost) and oceanic ridges below and answer
the questions that follow.

Rift Valleys

Oceanic Ridges

WRITTEN BY: DONNA ROSE J. VARGAS

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Questions:

1. What are common in the four pictures?

2. Millions of years ago, the landmasses in each picture were once connected. What do
you think is happening to the Earth’s crust in those pictures?

3. If this event continues for millions of years, what do you think will be the effect on the
crust?

4. Given a sample of rift valley below, draw how it looks like after millions of years.

After millions of years

REMEMBER
Key Points

 Divergent plate boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each
other. It occurs when convection currents in the mantle push the plates to move along
its lateral flow. The existing plates are stretched thin because of the pull of the
convection currents on opposite directions, which causes the plates to split and cause
magma to rise from the Earth’s mantle to the surface, solidifying to create a new
oceanic crust.
 The divergence of oceanic plates causes the formation of mid-ocean ridges, widening
of ocean basins, volcanic activity in the form of fissure eruptions, creation of new
seafloor, and shallow earthquake activity.
 Divergence of plate boundaries occurring between continental plates creates rift
valleys, Earthquakes, new crust formation, and Volcanoes.
 A rift valley is formed on a divergent plate boundary, a crustal extension, or spreading
apart of the surface.
 Mid-ocean ridges occur along divergent plate boundaries, where the new ocean floor
is created as the Earth’s tectonic plates spread apart. As the plates separate, the
molten rock rises to the seafloor, producing enormous volcanic eruptions of basalt.
 Effects that are found at a divergent boundary between oceanic plates include a
submarine mountain range such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, volcanic activity in the form
of fissure eruptions, shallow earthquake activity, creation of new seafloor and a
widening ocean basin.

WRITTEN BY: DONNA ROSE J. VARGAS

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TRY
Let’s see how much you have learned today!
Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.
(Write your answer on the separate Learner’s Activity and Assessment sheets
provided.)
1. Which of the following processes occurs
at divergent plate boundaries?
I. Divergent plate boundaries are
characterized by shallow earthquakes.
II. Divergent plate boundaries are
distinguished by volcanic eruptions,
oceanic ridges, and very young
lithosphere.
III. Divergent plate boundaries create
underseas mountains and volcanoes.
IV. Divergent plate boundaries produce
new crust at the mid-ocean ridges. 6. According to this Figure, what type of
plate boundary occurs between the North
a. I and II c. II, III and IV American Plate and the Eurasian plate?
b. I, II and III d. I, II, II and IV a. Transform boundary
2. Which of the following is NOT a result of b. Divergent boundary
the process of divergent plate boundary? c. convergent oceanic-continental plate
a. The Great Rift Valley of East Africa boundary
b. The Red Sea d. convergent oceanic-oceanic plate
c. The San Andrea Fault boundary
d. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge 7. What feature forms near divergent
3. If the Atlantic Ocean is widening at a rate boundaries between two pieces of oceanic
of 3cm per year, how far (in km) will it crust?
spread in a million years? a. Mid-ocean ridge?
a. 300 km b. The non- volcanic mountain
b. 30 km c. Continental rift valley
c. 30 miles d. Trench
d. 3 km 8. What feature forms near divergent
4. What is a divergent plate boundary? boundaries between two pieces of
a. A boundary between two plates that continental crust?
are moving apart a. Rift valley
b. A boundary between two plates that b. Mid-ocean ridge
are crashing together c. Canyon
c. A boundary between two plates that d. The non- volcanic mountain
are sliding past each other 9. Which statement explains the process in
d. A boundary between two plates that divergent plate boundaries as plates move
are not moving away from each other?
5. A divergent boundary at two oceanic a. It results in the narrowing of the
plates can result in a ____. seafloor.
a. Rift valley b. Convection currents in the mantle move
b. Volcanic island arc sideways, and the upwelling of magma
c. Continental volcanic arc splits and pushes the Earth’s crust.
d. Subduction zone c. Earthquake is not felt as a result of this
process.
d. As the plates separate, the molten rock
rises to the seafloor, producing enormous
volcanic eruptions of basalt.

10. Formation of rift valleys and oceanic

ridges are indications that the crust is
a. moving towards each other
b. sliding past each other
c. moving away from each other
d. moving up and down
WRITTEN BY: DONNA ROSE J. VARGAS
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11. Which of the following processes explains 14. Which of the processes below explains
how divergent plate boundaries occur? the formation of mid-ocean ridges formed
I. Convection currents from the mantle push on at divergent plate boundaries?
the bottom of the lithosphere. A. Continental plates begin to split and
II. Convection currents lift the plates and flow forms fissures. Magma from beneath the
laterally beneath it. plate rises to the fissures and solidifies
III. Plates are stretched thin by the lateral flow of forming ridges.
convection currents causing cracks or fissures. B. Continental plates arched upwards from
IV. Convection currents cause subduction the convection current’s lift and fractured
zones. into ridge-like structures.
C. Oceanic plates begin to split and forms
A. I only C. I, II and IV fissures. Magma from beneath the plate
B. II and III only D. I, II and III rises to the fissures and solidifies forming
ridges.
12. What is a divergent plate boundary? D. Oceanic plates arched upwards from
A. A boundary between two plates that are the convection current’s lift and fractured
moving apart. into a rift-shaped structure.
B. A boundary between two plates that are 15. When the continental plates move
crashing together. apart, the plates arches upward. What
C. A boundary between two plates that are causes the plates to the arch?
sliding past each other. A. The subduction of the continental plates
D. A boundary between two plates that are not at the point where it arches.
moving. B. The convection currents below the
13. Which of the following will NOT occur at continental plate.
continental-continental plate boundaries? C. The formation of mid-ocean ridges
A. Rift valleys C. Volcanoes D. The convergence of the continental
B. Earthquakes D. mid-ocean ridges plates.

 Grade 10 Science Learner’s Manual. Department of Education,

Republic of the Philippines.
 GNS Science Staff. (n.d.).Tectonic Plates and Plate Boundaries.
Retrieved from https://www. gns.cri.nz July 11, 2020
 National Geographic Staff. (n.d.). Rift Valley. Retrieved from
https://nationalgeographic.org July 11, 2020
REFERENCE/S
 Ocean Exploration and Research Staff. (n.d.). What are the different
types of plate tectonic boundaries? Retrieved from
https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov July 11, 2020
 The Geological Society Staff. (n.d.). Divergent Plate Boundaries.
Retrieved from https://geolsoc.org.uk July 11, 2020

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WRITTEN BY: DONNA ROSE J. VARGAS