Final answer:
Tectonic plates move due to divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries, each creating different geological features such as mid-ocean ridges, mountains, trenches, and fault zones.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tectonic Plate Movements and Geological Features
Tectonic plates are large segments of the Earth's crust that move over the partially molten upper mantle layer called the asthenosphere. The plates move at a rate of millimeters to a few centimeters per year, and their relative motion creates distinct geological features. There are three main types of relative motions: divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.
- Divergent boundaries occur when tectonic plates move away from each other. Mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys are common geological features formed at these boundaries, as seen in places like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
- Convergent boundaries happen when tectonic plates move towards each other. This can lead to subduction where one plate goes under another resulting in volcanic arcs, mountain ranges, and oceanic trenches such as the Mariana Trench and the Andes Mountains.
- At transform boundaries, plates slide past each other horizontally. This lateral movement can cause earthquakes along fault lines, with the San Andreas Fault in California being a well-known example.
Movement at plate boundaries can also cause earthquakes and is often associated with volcanic activity.