Final answer:
The formation of mountain ranges on Earth results from the pushing together of tectonic plates made of continental crust, also known as orogeny, exemplified by the formation of the Alps from the collision of the African and Eurasian plates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process that results in the formation of mountain ranges on Earth's surface is the pushing together of tectonic plates made of continental crust.
This process is known as mountain building or orogeny. When two continental plates collide, the crust can neither subduct nor retreat, leading to a forceful and often slow collision. This collision causes the crust to buckle, fold, and be pushed upwards, forming mountain ranges. A clear example is the formation of the Alps, which occurred due to the collision of the African and Eurasian plates. On the other hand, processes like pulling apart of tectonic plates lead to rifts and valleys, not mountain ranges.
Mountain ranges can also be affected post-formation by natural erosive processes like water and ice, which sculpture the mountains into the rugged landscapes we are familiar with. Furthermore, plate tectonics is not exclusive to Earth, as there are indications of similar processes happening on other planets, albeit through different mechanisms.