What type of boundary is characterized by plates sliding past each other?

The correct answer, characterized by plates sliding past each other, is a transform boundary. At transform boundaries, tectonic plates move horizontally in opposite directions. This lateral movement can cause significant geological activity, including earthquakes, as the edges of the plates grind against each other.

Transform boundaries are often found on land as well as on the ocean floor, where they can create fault lines. A well-known example of a transform boundary is the San Andreas Fault in California, where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate slide past each other.

Understanding this concept is key when considering different types of plate interactions and their associated geological phenomena. In contrast, convergent boundaries occur where plates push together, leading to mountain building or subduction; divergent boundaries see plates moving apart, causing seafloor spreading; and subductive boundaries, which is often confused with convergent, specifically refer to one plate being forced under another in a subduction zone. Each of these boundaries has distinct characteristics and mechanisms, but the sliding past motion is uniquely indicative of transform boundaries.