$!MPL€____The crust of the Earth has been formed out of the seven major and some miner plates. These plates have been named as tectonic plates.

Tectonic Plates: An Overview
Tectonic plates are large, rigid pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with one another. These interactions are responsible for various geological phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountains.
Structure of Tectonic Plates
- The lithosphere, which includes the crust and the uppermost mantle, is divided into several major and minor tectonic plates.
- Major plates include the Pacific Plate, North American Plate, Eurasian Plate, African Plate, South American Plate, Antarctic Plate, and the Indo-Australian Plate.
Types of Plate Boundaries
- Divergent Boundaries: Plates move apart, leading to the formation of new crust, commonly seen at mid-ocean ridges.
- Convergent Boundaries: Plates collide, causing one plate to be forced under another, leading to subduction zones, mountain ranges, and earthquakes.
- Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past one another horizontally, resulting in significant friction and earthquakes, exemplified by the San Andreas Fault.
Plate Movement Mechanisms
- Tectonic plates are driven by forces such as slab pull, ridge push, and mantle convection.
- The heat from the Earth's interior creates convection currents in the mantle, causing plates to move.
Significance of Tectonic Plates
- The movement of tectonic plates shapes the Earth's surface and is crucial in understanding geological processes.
- Studying tectonic plates helps predict natural disasters, contributing to disaster preparedness and risk management.
Understanding tectonic plates is essential for grasping the dynamic nature of our planet and the forces that shape its landscape.