What happens when tectonic plates continually move around and bump each other?

Answer 1

Tectonic plates do not continually move around nor do they normally bump against each other.

If you can imagine two really rough bricks held against each other by tremendous force, you have just imagined what tectonic plates are like.They are huge bricks floating on a super hot liquid. They wish to move past each other in some direction but friction prevents that. Eventually forces develop that are large enough to overcome the friction that keeps them from moving, and they slide against each other. The result is an earth tremor. It shakes just as the bricks would if you held them in your hands and made them slide past each other. Sometimes you can feel the shaking as they pass. That's an earthquake. Sometimes it happens in the middle of the ocean and nobody notices.

However both events are recorded on one, or more "Seismograph(s)."

The seismographs record the size (magnitude) of the earthquake and the direction. By drawing lines in the direction of the event from 3 or more seismographs scientists can then show where the event occurred.

The magnitude (size) of the earthquake is measured on the "Richter" scale. The Richter scale is a logarithmic in nature. In other words a 2 on the Richter is 10 times as powerful as a 1. This is true for all numbers on the scale. Three on the Richter scale is 100 times as powerful as a 1 (10 from 1 to 2 times 10 from 2 to 3 equals 100). It's easy to see that the magnitudes increase very rapidly. A 7 on the Richter scale is 10 X 10 X 10 X 10 X 10 X 10 X10, or 10,000,000 times as powerful as a 1.

DARN! THAT SMARTS!

Answer 2

When two plates rub together the ground starts to shake and the is called an Earthquake ( seismic wave ).

Answer 3

Pressure builds up, and then is suddenly released as a earthquake.

Answer 4

an earth quake

Answer 5

Earthquakes and erosion.

Answer 6

it creates a hill, but which kind?