The Theory of Plate Tectonics

The Theory of Plate Tectonics explains how Earth's outer shell, the lithosphere, is divided into large, rigid plates that float on the semi-fluid layer beneath called the asthenosphere. These tectonic plates move slowly due to convection currents in Earth's mantle. Their interactions—colliding, diverging, or sliding past each other—cause geological activities like earthquakes, mountain formation, and volcanic eruptions. This dynamic process shapes the Earth's surface over millions of years, creating continents, ocean basins, and features observed today, providing a unifying explanation for many geological phenomena.