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New
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Year 10
AQA

Processes at destructive/convergent plate margins

I can explain the processes at destructive/convergent plate margins and the causes of earthquakes and volcanoes.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Processes at destructive/convergent plate margins

I can explain the processes at destructive/convergent plate margins and the causes of earthquakes and volcanoes.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Destructive/convergent plate margins involve two plates moving towards each other.
  2. Distinctive processes occur at destructive/convergent plate margins.
  3. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur at destructive/convergent plate margins and have distinctive characteristics.

Keywords

  • Subduction - the process at a destructive plate margin where a denser oceanic plate sinks beneath a less dense plate into the mantle

  • Tsunami - a series of large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or landslides

  • Magnitude - a measure of the energy released by an earthquake; a higher magnitude means a stronger earthquake

Common misconception

That volcanoes occur directly above where the oceanic plate starts to subduct.

In fact, the melting of the oceanic plate occurs deep in the mantle, so magma rises to the surface some distance away from the plate margin.


To help you plan your year 10 geography lesson on: Processes at destructive/convergent plate margins, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Show students video clips of explosive and effusive volcanic eruption types to underline the differences between them.
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Adult supervision required

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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which layer of Earth is composed mostly of solid iron and nickel?
Crust
Mantle
Outer core
Correct answer: Inner core
Q2.
What is a cause of tectonic plate movement?
Wind currents
Correct answer: Convection currents in the mantle
Earth's rotation
Gravitational pull from the moon
Q3.
Which of the following is a result of tectonic plate movement?
Earthquakes
Volcanic eruptions
Mountain building
Correct answer: All of the above
Q4.
What type of volcano erupts gently and has broad, sloping sides?
Composite volcano
Correct answer: Shield volcano
Stratovolcano
Caldera
Q5.
What is the main reason for the occurrence of tsunamis?
Correct answer: Earthquakes in the ocean
Meteorite impacts
Coastal erosion
Volcanic eruptions on land
Q6.
Which of these statements are true?
A natural hazard is an event that always causes damage
Correct answer: A natural disaster causes significant damage to human lives or property
Natural disasters happen anywhere in the world

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords and their definitions.
Correct Answer:subduction,when one tectonic plate is forced under another plate
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when one tectonic plate is forced under another plate

Correct Answer:tsunami,a giant ocean wave caused by underwater earthquakes
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a giant ocean wave caused by underwater earthquakes

Correct Answer:magnitude,a measure of the energy released by an earthquake
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a measure of the energy released by an earthquake

Q2.
What happens at a destructive (convergent) plate margin?
Plates move apart
Plates slide past each other
Correct answer: Plates move towards each other
Plates move in a circular motion
Q3.
Put the sentences in the correct order to describe the formation of volcanoes at a destructive plate margin.
1 - When a plate is subducted into the mantle, it heats up.
2 - This helps the rock above to melt and form magma.
3 - This magma rises up through cracks in the crust, causing volcanic eruptions.
4 - Over time, layers of lava and ash build up to form a volcano.
5 - Volcanoes at destructive plate margins produce explosive eruptions.
Q4.
Explosive volcanic eruptions produce a range of very dangerous hazards, including:
pyroclastic flows
ash clouds
lava flows
lahars
Correct answer: all of the above