What do we call the boundary where two tectonic plates move apart?

The term used to describe the boundary where two tectonic plates move apart is known as a divergent boundary. At divergent boundaries, tectonic plates are separating from each other, which allows magma from the mantle to rise to the surface, creating new oceanic crust. This process is often associated with mid-ocean ridges, where the ocean floor is being formed as the plates pull apart. This movement can lead to volcanic activity and earthquakes as the new material emerges and the surrounding area adjusts to the change.

In contrast, convergent boundaries involve tectonic plates moving toward each other, which can lead to one plate being forced below another in a process called subduction. Transform boundaries consist of plates sliding past one another horizontally, and subduction zones specifically refer to the areas where one tectonic plate is pushed beneath another.