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Why is the oceanic plate thinner than the continental plate?
oceanic plates are formed at divergent boundaries mainly at mid ocean ridges. The material that is poured out are basaltic lave in nature. Basalt is denser and heavier than the granite that makes up continental plates. Oceanic plates are much thinner than the continental plates.
Is a continental plate heavier than oceanic crust?
Both oceanic crust and continental crust are less dense than the mantle, but oceanic crust is denser than continental crust. Because continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust it floats higher on the mantle, just like a piece of Styrofoam floats higher on water than a piece of wood does.
What is the difference between oceanic and continental?
Oceanic crust is found under oceans, and it is about four miles thick in most places. Continental crust varies between six and 47 miles in thickness depending on where it is found. Continental crust tends to be much older than the oceanic kind, and rocks found on this kind of crust are often the oldest in the world.
Why is oceanic crust thicker?
As the mantle rises it cools and melts, as the pressure decreases and it crosses the solidus. The amount of melt produced depends only on the temperature of the mantle as it rises. Hence most oceanic crust is the same thickness (7±1 km).
How would you compare the oceanic and continental crust?
Continental crust is low in density whereas oceanic crust has a higher density. Continental crust is thicker, on the contrary, the oceanic crust is thinner. Continental crust floats on magma freely but oceanic crust floats on magma scarcely. Continental crust cannot recycle whereas oceanic crust can recycle it.
What are two differences between continental and oceanic crust?
What is the difference between continental and oceanic?
1. The oceanic crust is made up of basalt while the continental crust is made up of granite. 2. The oceanic crust is thinner while the continental crust is much thicker.