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Tectonic plates are large, rigid pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, covering the planet's surface. They float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them, which is composed of molten rock that allows the plates to move. This movement is driven by convection currents in the mantle, where hotter, less dense material rises and cooler, denser material sinks, creating a dynamic system that leads to plate interactions such as collisions, separations, and sliding past one another. These interactions are responsible for various geological phenomena, including earthquakes, mountain formation, and volcanic activity.

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What term do we use to describe any geographical feature on the earths surface?

The term used to describe any geographical feature on the Earth's surface is "landform." Landforms include a variety of features such as mountains, valleys, plateaus, hills, and plains. They are shaped by natural processes like erosion, weathering, and tectonic activity.


Tectonic plates are present on the earths surface because what?

If we didn't have tectonic plates nothing would be living. We would have been burnt by the moulten lava


What are moving pieces under the earths surface that form the earths crust?

Tectonic plates are the moving pieces under the Earth's surface that form the Earth's crust. These plates float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere and interact with each other through processes like subduction, spreading, and collision, which contribute to the shaping of Earth's surface features.


The surface of the earth moves violently in an what?

The surface of the earth moves violently in an earthquake. This occurs when there is a sudden release of energy in the earths crust. Anything from a volcano to a tectonic plate shift can cause an earthquake.


What is the name of the dip in earths surface that was caused by separating by tectonic plates?

The dip in Earth's surface caused by the separation of tectonic plates is called a "rift valley." Rift valleys form when tectonic plates pull apart, leading to the subsidence of the land between them. This geological feature is commonly associated with divergent plate boundaries and can be found in areas such as the East African Rift.

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