Question

Which of the following statements is true?

a)lithosphere is created at convergent boundaries at the same rate it is destroyed at divergent boundaries.
b)lithosphere is created at divergent boundaries at the same rate it is destroyed at convergent boundaries.
c)lithosphere is created at divergent boundaries faster than the rate it is destroyed at convergent boundaries.
d)lithosphere is created at convergent boundaries faster than the rate it is destroyed at divergent boundaries.

Answer 1

The correct statement is that lithosphere is created at divergent boundaries at the same rate it is destroyed at convergent boundaries, reflecting the balance of crustal material in the Earth's plate tectonics system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The true statement among the options provided is: b) lithosphere is created at divergent boundaries at the same rate it is destroyed at convergent boundaries. This is a key aspect of the theory of plate tectonics, which describes the movement and interaction of the earth's lithospheric plates. At divergent boundaries, plates move apart from one another and magma rises from below the Earth's surface to form new lithosphere. Conversely, at convergent boundaries, one plate may be forced beneath another into the mantle in a process known as subduction, leading to the destruction of lithosphere. This process helps maintain the surface area of the Earth's crust and is evidenced by geological features such as deep ocean trenches at subduction zones and mid-ocean ridges at divergent boundaries.