There are 15 plates:
All these plates are actually located on the continents, either fully or partially engulfing them.
Overlapping portions of two continents are known as continental plates or tectonic plates. These plates can collide, separate, or slide past each other due to the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates.
Continents exist due to the movement of tectonic plates on Earth's surface. These plates constantly shift and collide, leading to the formation of continents over millions of years. The Earth's crust is divided into several large and small land masses, which we refer to as continents.
7 continents on the earth
Geographers believe that the movement of tectonic plates caused Pangaea, the ancient supercontinent, to split into the seven continents we have today. The shifting of these huge plates over millions of years resulted in the separation and drifting of the land masses to their current positions. This process of plate tectonics is ongoing, with the continents still slowly moving today.
The breakup of Pangaea into the seven continents was primarily driven by the movement of Earth's tectonic plates. Over millions of years, the plates shifted, causing Pangaea to split apart and create the continents as we know them today. This process, known as continental drift, continues to shape the Earth's geology and landforms.
Plates play a role in Pangaea changing into 7 continents because there are 7 major plates in the world. These plates are being moved by sea-floor spreading, pulling the continents along with them.
they form the 7 continents in this case.
Continental drift - the movement of tectonic plates
the plates surrounding the continents
these are the plates under the land and they are spins round and when they meet and they form the continents
Tectonic plates.
The continents and the ocean floor rest upon the plates.
When the plates drift apart through sea floor spreading, so do the continents
No, continents and plates are not the same. Continents are large land masses that form the Earth's surface, while tectonic plates are pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other, causing geological phenomena like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Continents are located on top of tectonic plates and can be made up of one or more plates.
the plates surrounding the continents
No. There can be multiple plates within one continent.
It's better to say that the continents are part of the plates. Plate boundaries are sometimes on dry land and sometimes not.