Final answer:
Yes, the movement of tectonic plates can create deep cracks or rifts as the Earth's crust is comprised of tectonic plates that move and interact with each other, leading to various geological features and phenomena including rifts, fault zones, and mountain ranges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the movement of tectonic plates created deep cracks or rifts in Earth's crust is true. The Earth's crust is made up of several interconnected sections, or tectonic plates, which float on the molten mantle beneath them. The movement of these plates can have various consequences, including the formation of mountains, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the creation of rifts and fault zones.
When tectonic plates pull apart from each other, they can form rifts, which are significant cracks or openings in the Earth's crust. This process typically occurs at divergent boundaries where the plates separate. Rifts often lead to new crustal materials being added to the edges of the plates from the mantle below. Meanwhile, when plates slide alongside each other, they can create fault zones. Large faults, such as the San Andreas Fault, mark the boundary between moving plates and can generate earthquakes when stress is released from the plate movement.
Fault zones and plate motion also contribute to the gradual changes in Earth's geography, affecting everything from the formation of mountain ranges to potentially altering weather patterns and climates as a result of significant terrain changes.