Understanding What a Tectonic Plate Is
A tectonic plate is a massive piece of Earth’s outer shell. These plates fit together like a giant puzzle and slowly move, shaping the surface of our planet.
How Tectonic Plates Work
Earth’s crust sits on top of the hotter, semi-fluid mantle. Heat from deep inside the planet causes the mantle to move, pushing the plates above it.
Where Tectonic Plates Meet
The boundaries between plates are active zones. Here, plates can collide, pull apart, or slide past each other, creating earthquakes and volcanic activity.
What Tectonic Plates Create
Mountains form when plates crash together. Mid-ocean ridges appear when plates separate. Volcanoes often rise at the edges of moving plates.
Why Tectonic Plates Move
Heat from inside Earth creates convection currents. These slow currents drag the plates along, causing constant movement—even if we can’t feel it.
Why Tectonic Plates Matter
Tectonic activity shapes landscapes, forms continents, triggers natural hazards, and plays a major role in Earth’s long-term evolution.
The Simple Takeaway
Tectonic plates are huge sections of Earth’s crust that move slowly and reshape the planet. Their movement creates mountains, earthquakes, and volcanoes.