In terms of thickness, how does oceanic crust compare to continental crust?

Oceanic crust is indeed thinner than continental crust, which is the reason for selecting the answer indicating that the oceanic crust is thinner. Typically, oceanic crust has an average thickness of about 5 to 10 kilometers, while continental crust can range from about 30 to 70 kilometers in thickness.

This significant difference arises from the materials that comprise each type of crust. Oceanic crust is primarily composed of basalt, which is denser and forms at mid-ocean ridges through volcanic activity. In contrast, continental crust consists mostly of granitic rocks, which are less dense and allow for greater variability and thickness due to tectonic processes such as mountain building and continental collision.

Understanding this comparative thickness is crucial for comprehending various geological processes, including plate tectonics, as the variations in thickness influence the behavior of tectonic plates and their interactions at plate boundaries.