Constructive plate boundary is defined as:

Constructive plate boundary is defined as:

• A. Plates that move toward each other
• B. Plates that slide past one another
• C. Plates that rotate independently
• D. Plates that move away from each other

Answer: (D)

A constructive boundary is the place where tectonic plates move apart. As the plates separate, mantle material rises to fill the gap, cools, and forms new crust. This process is why you often hear about seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges and, in some cases, rift valleys where continents are pulling apart. Because crust is being created as the plates pull away, the defining movement is plates moving away from one another. So the best fit is plates that move away from each other. Moving toward each other would be a convergent (destructive) boundary, where crust is often destroyed. Sliding past one another describes a transform boundary with lateral motion and earthquakes, not crust creation. Rotating independently isn’t how we categorize plate boundaries.

A constructive boundary is the place where tectonic plates move apart. As the plates separate, mantle material rises to fill the gap, cools, and forms new crust. This process is why you often hear about seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges and, in some cases, rift valleys where continents are pulling apart. Because crust is being created as the plates pull away, the defining movement is plates moving away from one another.

So the best fit is plates that move away from each other. Moving toward each other would be a convergent (destructive) boundary, where crust is often destroyed. Sliding past one another describes a transform boundary with lateral motion and earthquakes, not crust creation. Rotating independently isn’t how we categorize plate boundaries.