Tectonic plates are large, rigid pieces of the Earth'slithosphere that move and interact with one another. These plates float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. The movement of tectonic plates is driven by the heat generated from the Earth's core and the gravitational forces.
Divergent Boundaries: where tectonic plates move away from each other, leading to the formation of new crust. This process often occurs at mid-ocean ridges.
Earthquakes occur when there is a sudden release of energy along faults in the Earth'scrust. This release of energycauses seismic waves that can result in significant ground shaking and damage to structures.
The collision of tectonic plates at convergent boundaries can lead to the uplift and formation of mountain ranges. This process occurs over millions of years as the Earth'scrust is folded and faulted.