plate tectonics

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What is plate tectonics?

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Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that describes the large-scale movement of Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath.

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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 one another, causing geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain building.

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What is continental drift?

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Continental drift is the hypothesis that continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together in a single landmass called Pangaea.

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What is a tectonic plate boundary?

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A tectonic plate boundary is a region where two tectonic plates meet, and it can be classified into three main types: divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.

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What happens at a divergent boundary?

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At a divergent boundary, tectonic plates move apart from each other, leading to the formation of new crust as magma rises to the surface.

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What happens at a convergent boundary?

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At a convergent boundary, tectonic plates move towards each other, which can result in one plate being forced beneath another, leading to subduction and mountain formation.

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What happens at a transform boundary?

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At a transform boundary, tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally, which can cause earthquakes.

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What is oceanic crust?

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Oceanic crust is the part of Earth's crust that underlies the ocean basins, and it is generally thinner and denser than continental crust.

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What is continental crust?

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Continental crust is the part of Earth's crust that forms the continents, and it is generally thicker and less dense than oceanic crust.

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What causes the movement of tectonic plates?

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The movement of tectonic plates is primarily caused by convection currents in the Earth's mantle, which are driven by heat from the Earth's core.