Plate Tectonics
Plate tectonics is the theoretical framework in Geology that describes the large-scale motion of the Earth's Lithosphere, which is broken into several large plates that float on the more fluid Earth's core and Mantle. These plates are in constant motion, sliding over the more fluid layers below, and interacting at their boundaries, where they can create Mountain ranges, Volcanoes, and Earthquakes. The movement of these plates is driven by Convection currents in the Mantle, which are powered by the decay of Radioactive elements. Plate Tectonics helps explain many geological phenomena, including the distribution of Continental and Oceanic crust, the formation of Mountain ranges, and the creation of Earthquake zones. The theory of Plate Tectonics was developed by Alfred Wegener and others, and has been supported by a wide range of observations, including Seismology, Paleomagnetism, and Geodesy.