when two tectonic plates collide the oceanic crust usually

When two tectonic plates collide, the oceanic crust usually subducts beneath the continental crust because it is denser and thinner than continental crust.

Quick explanation

• Oceanic crust is made mostly of dense basalt, so it sinks more easily into the mantle.

• Continental crust is thicker and less dense (more buoyant), so it tends to stay on top.

• Where this happens, a subduction zone forms, often with: trenches, earthquakes, and volcanic arcs along the edge of the continent.

You’ll often see this phrased in textbooks and quizzes exactly as:

“When two tectonic plates collide, the oceanic crust usually subducts beneath the continental crust.”

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