Tectonic plates are large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other. The movement of these plates is driven by the heat generated from the Earth's core.

Types of Plate Boundaries

There are three main types of plate boundaries:

Divergent Boundaries: where tectonic plates move away from each other, leading to the formation of new crust.
Convergent Boundaries: where tectonic plates move towards each other, leading to the formation of mountains, deep ocean trenches, and volcanic activity.
Transform Boundaries: where tectonic plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes.

Volcanic Activity

Volcanic activity is often associated with convergent and divergent plate boundaries. When plates move apart or come together, the resulting pressure and heat can lead to the formation of volcanoes.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes occur as a result of the movement of tectonic plates, particularly at transform boundaries. The sudden release of energy causes the ground to shake.