Question

in which area of converging plates would one NOT expect to find volcanoes?

a. japan

b. between india and asia

c. western south america

d. southern italy

Answer 1

Option B is correct- Between India and Asia.

India and Asia are both continental tectonic plates which when they converge or collide, dues to their almost identical density, will both give rise to mountains. No plate will be subjected underneath the other and hence no volcanoes will be formed. To understand this you have to know that :

• Volcanoes form where either two plates move away from each other i.e. at Divergent boundaries OR
• At convergent boundaries where one plate (oceanic) subjects underneath a continental/ oceanic plate.

Option A is wrong because Japan here the Pacific plate is subjecting beneath the northern tectonic plate of Japan which gives rise to a volcanic arc.

Option C is wrong because in western South America the Nazca Plate (oceanic) is subjecting underneath the South American plate giving rise to a number of volcanoes.

Option D is wrong because in Southern Italy this is where the African plate subjects underneath the Eurasian plate forming volcanoes.