Final answer:
The process of mountain building is termed orogeny, involving the collision and folding of the Earth's crust due to plate tectonics. Erosive forces like water and ice later shape these newly formed mountains, carving sharp features such as peaks and edges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of mountain building is called orogeny. This geological phenomenon occurs when two continental masses collide, exerting pressure against each other which leads to the Earth's crust buckling and folding. This is evident in the formation of the Alpine mountains, due to the collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. During this process, the added weight of the continental masses causes the lithosphere to bend and create foreland basins, such as the Persian Gulf, which lies adjacent to the Zagros Mountains.
Following the initial formation of mountain ranges, they are shaped over time by erosion due to water and ice. This can sculpt their appearances into sharp peaks and serrated edges. Without these erosive forces, mountains, like those on the Moon or Mercury, would remain smooth. Throughout Earth’s history, the Appalachian/Caledonide Mountains, for instance, have been shaped through several orogenic events including the Taconic, Acadian, and Alleghenian orogenies.