Here's why:
* Earth's Structure: The Earth's outer layer, known as the lithosphere, is broken into these massive, moving pieces called tectonic plates.
* Plate Movement: These plates are constantly in motion, interacting with each other at their boundaries. This interaction can be:
* Convergent: Plates collide, causing one to slide under the other (subduction) or pushing mountains upwards.
* Divergent: Plates move apart, creating new crust.
* Transform: Plates slide past each other horizontally.
* Earthquakes: Most earthquakes occur along these plate boundaries where the movement causes stress and eventually, a sudden release of energy in the form of seismic waves.
So, it's the movement and interaction of these tectonic plates that create the conditions for earthquakes.
