Here's a breakdown:
Lithosphere:
* The rigid outer layer of Earth consisting of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.
* Behaves as a strong, brittle solid due to its relatively cool temperature.
* Divided into tectonic plates which are constantly moving and interacting with each other.
Tectonic Plates:
* Large, rigid slabs of lithosphere that fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
* Move slowly across the Earth's surface due to convection currents in the mantle.
* Responsible for major geological phenomena like earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain ranges.
Types of Tectonic Plates:
* Oceanic Plates: Made primarily of denser, basaltic crust.
* Continental Plates: Made primarily of less dense, granitic crust.
Note: The term "subdivision" is not commonly used when referring to the lithosphere. Instead, we focus on the tectonic plates that make up this rigid outer layer of Earth.