GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The theory of plate tectonics revolutionized the earth sciences by explaining how the movement of geologic plates causes mountain building, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

Detailed explanation-2: -Plates rip apart at a divergent plate boundary, causing volcanic activity and shallow earthquakes; and. At a convergent plate boundary, one plate dives or “subducts” beneath the other, resulting in a variety of earthquakes and a line of volcanoes on the overriding plate.

Detailed explanation-3: -When the concept of seafloor spreading came along, scientists recognized that it was the mechanism to explain how continents could move around Earth’s surface. Like the scientists before us, we will now merge the ideas of continental drift and seafloor spreading into the theory of plate tectonics.

Detailed explanation-4: -Most of the world’s volcanoes are found around the edges of tectonic plates, both on land and in the oceans. On land, volcanoes form when one tectonic plate moves under another. Usually a thin, heavy oceanic plate subducts, or moves under, a thicker continental plate.

Detailed explanation-5: -Plates sliding past each other cause friction and heat. Subducting plates melt into the mantle, and diverging plates create new crust material. Subducting plates, where one tectonic plate is being driven under another, are associated with volcanoes and earthquakes.