Plate tectonics are parts of the Earth's lithosphere that are divided into seven major plates and

many
less major ones. ... From the 1960s to the 1970s, scientists made many important discoveries about the
oceans crust, such as paleomagnetism as scientists studied the earth's magnetic fields. ... Earthquakes
are caused by two of the plates sliding past each other, causing the earth's crust around it to shake. ... A
very strong earthquake can cause damage to houses, roads, buildings of importance, and death to
people. .