Forces in Earth's Crust

Question 15 • 2026-27 AL-Earth and Space Science

Which best describes how wedge basins form?

Answer

When two plates move apart, the weaker part of Earth’s crust moves down at normal faults where sediments are deposited until a basin forms.

At the area where two bent plates slide past each other, a depression forms where sediments are deposited.

When two plates collide, the non-subducting plate scrapes the subducting plate and forms a depression where sediments gather.

At the area of a depression between two plates, sediments continue to get deposited and become compacted.

Explanation

Wedge basins form at convergent plate boundaries, where one plate is subducted beneath another. The overriding, non-subducting plate scrapes against the subducting plate, creating a depression that collects sediments. Choice C describes this process; choice A instead describes a basin formed as crust drops along normal faults.

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