Final answer:
Tectonic plates play a crucial role in the formation of earthquake epicenters, the occurrence of volcanoes, and the construction of mountain ranges. Their movement can cause earthquakes, allow magma to rise and form volcanoes, and result in the buckling and folding of the Earth's crust to create mountain ranges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is d) Tectonic plates are related to earthquake epicenters, the occurrence of volcanoes, and the formation of mountain ranges. Tectonic plates are large segments of the Earth's crust that move due to slow motions within the Earth's mantle. This movement is a key factor in the creation of various large-scale geological features, including earthquake epicenters, volcanoes, and mountain ranges.
Epicenters of earthquakes often occur at the boundaries of tectonic plates where they interact with each other – pulling apart, colliding, or sliding past each other. Similarly, the occurrence of volcanoes is also linked with the movement of tectonic plates. Volcanic activity is observed when there is upward movement of the magma due to subduction, the process where one tectonic plate moves under another, or when continental plates collide.
Mountain ranges are formed either by volcanic activity or due to the collision of tectonic plates. When two continental plates collide, under great pressure, the Earth's crust buckles and folds. This buckling, along with the resulting uplift, is responsible for the formation of many mountain ranges, such as the Alps.
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