* Plate Tectonics: The Earth's outer layer, called the lithosphere, is made up of massive, rigid plates. These plates are constantly moving and interacting with each other.
* Types of Plate Movement:
* Convergent: Plates collide, causing one plate to subduct (slide) under the other. This creates mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
* Divergent: Plates move apart, allowing magma from the mantle to rise and create new crust. This forms mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.
* Transform: Plates slide past each other horizontally, causing earthquakes.
* Rock Cycle: Plate tectonics drives the rock cycle, the continuous process of rocks transforming from one type to another. Heat and pressure from the Earth's interior, along with weathering and erosion at the surface, play a role.
In short, the movement of tectonic plates is the primary force behind the changing and shifting of rocks within the Earth.
