Final answer:
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory explaining how the Earth's crust is divided into plates that move relative to each other, causing geological phenomena like earthquakes and mountain formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plate Tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that explains how the Earth's lithosphere (the rigid outer layer) is divided into several large and small plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere below. These plates move relative to each other, which leads to various geological phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and the formation of mountains and oceanic trenches.
One of the key components of plate tectonics is the theory of continental drift, proposed by Alfred Wegener, which suggests that the Earth's continents were once joined together in a single supercontinent called Pangaea, and have since moved apart across the globe.
Plate boundaries are where the movement and interactions of plates occur. There are three main types of boundaries: divergent boundaries, where plates move away from each other; convergent boundaries, where plates collide and create subduction zones or mountain ranges; and transform boundaries, where plates slide past each other horizontally. These boundary interactions result in the creation of various landforms and geological features, and they also play a significant role in the distribution of earthquakes and volcanic activity.
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