What occurs at divergent plate boundaries?

At divergent plate boundaries, tectonic plates move away from each other, which creates a rift or gap. This movement allows magma from the mantle to rise up and solidify at the surface, leading to the formation of new oceanic crust. This process is primarily observed at mid-ocean ridges, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the pull apart of tectonic plates results in volcanic activity and the continuous growth of the ocean floor. The creation of new crust is essential for understanding the dynamic nature of Earth's surface, as it contributes to the recycling of materials and the overall plate tectonics cycle.

In contrast, the other scenarios describe different types of plate interactions. Colliding plates create mountains through processes like subduction or continental collision, sliding plates past each other can generate earthquakes but do not lead to new crust formation, and the forced descent of plates into the mantle occurs at convergent boundaries, not divergent ones.