GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The earth’s crust is broken into separate pieces called tectonic plates (Fig. 7.14). Recall that the crust is the solid, rocky, outer shell of the planet. It is composed of two distinctly different types of material: the less-dense continental crust and the more-dense oceanic crust.

Detailed explanation-2: -Faults are cracks in the earth’s crust along which there is movement. These can be massive (the boundaries between the tectonic plates themselves) or very small. If tension builds up along a fault and then is suddenly released, the result is an earthquake.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Earth’s crust and upper mantle is broken into many plates called tectonic plates that are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. There are seven major plates that make up 94% of the Earth’s surface and many smaller plates making up the other 6%.

Detailed explanation-4: -The crust of the Earth is broken into many pieces called plates. The plates “float” on the soft, plastic mantle which is located below the crust. These plates usually move along smoothly but sometimes they stick and build up pressure.