What is the role of plate tectonics in earthquakes and volcanoes?

Answer 1

The movement of the tectonics are what create earthquakes. As magma pushes up through some cracks in the plates, it pushes the plates into one another. Where the plates collide is where the earthquakes appear. For example, Japan is on the "ring of fire", or the edge of the Pacific Ocean plate. It experiences earthquakes more frequently than, say, Colorado, which is not near the edge of any plates.

Answer 2

The Earth's surface is formed form a number of interlocking plates which are moved round by the convection of the underlying mantle (as it cools). This means that in some places the plates are being torn apart, in other places the plates are sliding past one another and in yet other places the plates are being squeezed together. These underlying plate movements provide the energy given off as earthquakes.

Earthquakes happen when the rocks breaks under pressure, rather like snapping a stick. As the plates move the rocks deform elastically (like a stick bending) and when eventually the rocks break under the stress, its snaps back to its original shape. This snap back is called elastic rebound. When the rock breaks and rebounds, its gives off energy. This energy causes the ground to shake.

The heat given off by the mantle is the source of energy for volcanoes which also occur near the plate margins. Volcanoes form where the plates are being torn apart (that is where the hot mantle rocks are rising) and where the plates are being squeezed together and cold wet rocks are forced back into the mantle and melt.

Friction also increases the amount of energy that is released from that earthquake, which is then affected by the speed of the movement of the tectonic plate.

Read more: How_Do_Plate_Tectonics_cause_earthquakes

Answer 3

For ordinary Andesite volcanoes, the subduction of one plate carries with it light siliceous sediments from the ocean floor and which have a moderate melting point.

Subducted deeply, this material melts, and forms intermittent chimneys to the surface where it is erupted as volcanoes.

These subduction zones may easily be seen on maps of deep earthquake activity versus distance inland from the coast.

See for example geonet.org.nz and look for 'deep earthquakes'. A very different pattern from the 'shallow earthquakes' shown on the same page.

Answer 4

Plate tectonics are responsible for the movement of Earth's lithosphere, leading to the formation of earthquakes and volcanoes at plate boundaries. Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates move against each other, causing stress and releasing energy in the form of seismic waves. Volcanoes form at convergent boundaries where one plate is forced beneath another, melting rock and creating magma that eventually erupts on the surface.

Answer 5

When Plates shift, or move they run into each other causing the ground to shake

Answer 6

The movement, binding, and release of binding of tectonic plates CAUSES earthquakes.