That's the phenomenon of Plate Tectonics part of which is Continental Drift. Very important when understanding geological events.
Most volcanoes on land are caused by the Earth's plates moving toward each other, a process known as convergent plate boundary. When two plates converge, the denser oceanic plate subducts beneath the less dense continental plate, leading to the formation of volcanoes along the subduction zone.
Divergent plates
The theory that the Earth's surface is composed of moving plates is known as plate tectonics. This theory posits that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large, rigid plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath. These tectonic plates constantly interact with one another, leading to geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountains. The movement of these plates is driven by forces such as mantle convection, slab pull, and ridge push.
I think you are referring to a phenomenon called Nutation.
The Earth's tectonic plates lay on top of the outer layer of the mantle. This layer is known as the asthenosphere.
The theory that Earth's surface is divided into more than 12 slow-moving plates is known as plate tectonics. These plates float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them, and their movement is responsible for various geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain building. The interactions between these plates at their boundaries shape the Earth's surface over geological timescales.
Plates beneath the Earth's crust are located in the upper part of the mantle, known as the lithosphere. These plates are constantly moving and interacting with each other, causing geological phenomena like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building.
These slabs, known as tectonic plates, interact at plate boundaries leading to various geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain formation. The movement of these plates is a result of the convection currents in the semi-fluid asthenosphere below.
The moving portion of Earth's crust and upper mantle is known as the lithosphere. It is broken into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere below, causing them to move and interact with each other, which leads to processes like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building.
Breaks between plates are known as plate boundaries. These boundaries can be divergent (moving apart), convergent (coming together), or transform (sliding past each other). Plate boundaries are dynamic areas where tectonic activity, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, is common.
The movement of the Earth's plates is known as plate tectonics. Geologists think the plates move due to a build up of extreme heat in the Earth's crust.
Underwater mountain ranges formed by tectonic plates moving apart are known as mid-ocean ridges. These geological features occur at divergent plate boundaries, where magma rises from the mantle to create new oceanic crust as the plates separate. This process not only forms the ridges but also leads to volcanic activity and the formation of new seafloor. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is one of the most well-known examples of such underwater mountain ranges.