Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated August 2025
Definition
Transform faults are a type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally. They are characterized by intense seismic activity and can result in earthquakes.
Strike-slip fault: A strike-slip fault is a specific type of transform fault where the movement between plates occurs mainly in a horizontal direction.
Plate Tectonics: Plate tectonics refers to the theory that Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large plates that move and interact with each other.
Seismic Activity: Seismic activity refers to the occurrence of earthquakes or any vibrations caused by the movement of Earth's crust.