Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several large, rigid plates that move and interact with each other at the boundaries. These plates are constantly shifting and colliding, leading to the formation of mountains, earthquakes, and volcanic activity. This theory helps explain the distribution of continents, ocean basins, and geological features on Earth's surface.
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Google Gemini AI
Apr 18
Plate tectonics describes how the Earth's crust and mantle interact, moving and reshaping the surface of the Earth over time. It explains how the lithosphere, the rigid outermost layer of the Earth, is divided into several large plates that float on the asthenosphere, a softer layer of the mantle beneath it. These plates interact and move relative to each other at their boundaries, which results in various geological phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.