Plate Tectonics

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What is Plate Tectonics?

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Plate Tectonics is the scientific theory that explains the movement of the Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them.

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What are tectonic plates?

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Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other, causing geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain formation.

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What is the Mantle?

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The Mantle is the thick layer of the Earth located between the crust and the outer core, composed of solid rock that flows slowly over time.

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What is the Earth's Crust?

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The Earth's Crust is the outermost layer of the Earth, consisting of solid rock and soil, where we live.

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What is Subduction?

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Subduction is the process where one tectonic plate moves under another plate and sinks into the mantle, often causing earthquakes and volcanic activity.

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What causes earthquakes?

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Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust due to the movement of tectonic plates along faults.

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What is a plate boundary?

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A plate boundary is the region where two tectonic plates meet, which can be classified as divergent, convergent, or transform boundaries.

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What happens at a divergent boundary?

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At a divergent boundary, two tectonic plates move away from each other, allowing magma to rise and create new crust, often forming mid-ocean ridges.

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What happens at a convergent boundary?

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At a convergent boundary, two tectonic plates collide, which can lead to subduction, mountain building, or volcanic activity.

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What is the Lithosphere?

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The Lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.