Tectonic Plates
Tectonic plates are large, rigid pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle on the planet’s surface. These plates float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. Their movements can lead to geological events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountains. The interactions between plates occur at their boundaries, which can be divergent (moving apart), convergent (colliding), or transform (sliding past each other). Understanding tectonic plates helps explain many natural phenomena and the Earth's dynamic processes over time.
Additional Insights
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Tectonic plates are large, rigid pieces of the Earth's crust that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, covering the planet's surface. They float on the semi-fluid mantle beneath them and move very slowly due to convection currents. This movement can cause earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountains when plates interact at their boundaries—colliding, pulling apart, or sliding past each other. The study of tectonic plates helps us understand Earth's geological activity and the processes that shape our planet's landscape over millions of years.