What are the major tectonic plates and their movements?.

The major tectonic plates include the Pacific, North American, Eurasian, African, South American, Antarctic, and Indo-Australian plates. These plates move due to convection currents in the Earth's mantle, leading to the formation of geological features and phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Key Facts

• The Pacific Plate is the largest tectonic plate.
• Tectonic plates can move apart, collide, or slide against each other.
• Most earthquakes occur along plate boundaries.
• The theory of plate tectonics was widely accepted in the 1960s.

Examples or Use Cases

• The Himalayan mountain range formed from the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
• The San Andreas Fault is a transform boundary between the Pacific and North American plates.

FAQs

What causes tectonic plate movement? Tectonic plate movement is primarily caused by convection currents in the Earth's mantle.

How do plate boundaries affect earthquakes? Earthquakes are most frequent at plate boundaries where plates interact.