Why do Ocean plates usually subduct beneath continental plates?

Ocean plates typically subduct beneath continental plates due to their higher density and greater thickness. The oceanic lithosphere is primarily composed of basalt, making it denser than the continental lithosphere, which is mainly composed of lighter granite. When these plates converge, the denser oceanic plate is forced downward into the mantle at subduction zones. This process leads to geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges.