Topic: Plate Tectonics

Earth's Structure:

Earth is composed of several layers: crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.
The crust is divided into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere.
Plate Boundaries:

Divergent Boundaries: Plates move away from each other, creating new crust (e.g., Mid-Atlantic
Ridge).
Convergent Boundaries: Plates collide, leading to subduction (one plate goes under the other) or
mountain formation (e.g., Himalayas).
Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes (e.g., San Andreas Fault).
Landforms and Phenomena:

Volcanoes: Formed at convergent and divergent boundaries due to magma rising from the mantle.
Earthquakes: Result from the release of energy along fault lines due to plate movement.
Mountain Ranges: Formed by the collision of tectonic plates or uplift due to tectonic forces.
Plate Movements:

Plates move due to convection currents in the mantle, driven by heat from the core.
Rates of movement vary (from a few millimeters to several centimeters per year).
Impact on Earth's Surface:

Continents have shifted over millions of years due to plate tectonics (evidence from fossil records and
continental drift).
Human Impacts:

Understanding plate tectonics helps in predicting and mitigating natural disasters like earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions.
Economic activities like mining and resource extraction are influenced by geological features shaped
by plate movements.