Which term refers to the boundary where plates slide horizontally past one another?

• A. Divergent Plate Boundaries
• B. Transform Plate Boundaries
• C. Convergent Plate Boundaries
• D. Subduction

Answer: (B)

The motion being tested is how plates move relative to each other at their boundaries. When two tectonic plates slide past one another in a mostly horizontal sense, the boundary is called a transform boundary. This sliding motion along faults creates earthquakes as the rocks snag and then release energy.

Divergent boundaries are where plates move apart, forming new crust at mid-ocean ridges or rift valleys. Convergent boundaries are where plates collide and push against each other, often building mountains and creating deep trenches. Subduction is a process that occurs at some convergent boundaries where one plate dives beneath another into the mantle.

So, the boundary described as plates sliding horizontally past one another is a transform plate boundary.