Final answer:
Tectonic plates are fundamental to Earth's geology, being the surface expression of mantle convection, responsible for creating mountains, forming new crust, and recycling old crust through subduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The substance of tectonic plates is tremendously important because they are responsible for many of the geological features and activities on Earth. The Earth's crust and upper mantle are divided into tectonic plates that move and interact in different ways, leading to a variety of geo-dynamic outcomes. Some key processes include:
- The creation of new crust at divergent boundaries, such as at mid-ocean ridges, where plates move apart and magma rises to form new crust.
- The destruction of old crust at convergent boundaries or subduction zones, where one plate dives beneath another, leading to melting and recirculation in the mantle.
- The formation of mountain ranges, often as the result of collisions or compressional forces at convergent plate boundaries.
- Seismic and volcanic activities associated with the movement and interaction of tectonic plates.
Thus, the most accurate answer to the student's question would be: Earth's crust becomes mid-ocean ridge here, and Earth mountains are formed here. Tectonic plates are also where Earth's crust is melted and destroyed, and where new crust is created.