What is the transformation described in transform theory?

Transform theory refers to the movement of tectonic plates along fault lines where they slide past one another. This lateral movement can lead to the build-up of stress in the Earth's crust, which can be released in the form of earthquakes.

In the context of plate tectonics, transform boundaries are critical as they connect divergent boundaries, where plates move apart, and convergent boundaries, where they collide. The sliding motion does not create or destroy crust but rather displaces it, highlighting the specific nature of transform boundaries. Earthquake activity commonly occurs at these boundaries due to the friction involved when the edges of the plates catch on one another and then suddenly slip.

The other options describe different types of plate interactions. For instance, two plates moving apart is characteristic of divergent boundaries, while two plates merging or colliding relates to convergent boundaries. Each of these processes involves different geological phenomena and outcomes compared to the lateral sliding motion inherent in transform boundaries.