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  1. Plate tectonics - Wikipedia

    Plate tectonics (from Latin tectonicus, from Ancient Greek τεκτονικός (tektonikós) 'pertaining to building') [2] is the scientific theory that Earth 's lithosphere comprises a number of large …

  2. Plate tectonics | Definition, Theory, Facts, & Evidence | Britannica

    Dec 23, 2025 · The concept of plate tectonics was formulated in the 1960s. According to the theory, Earth has a rigid outer layer, known as the lithosphere, which is typically about 100 km …

  3. Plate Tectonics - National Geographic Society

    May 21, 2025 · Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that explains how major landforms are created as a result of Earth’s subterranean movements. The theory, which solidified in the 1960s, …

  4. Plate Tectonics - Understanding Global Change

    The theory of plate tectonics explains processes in the geosphere that are fueled by Earth’s internal heat that have operated over billions of years. These changes can be imperceptible …

  5. Plate Tectonics – Definition, Theory, Plate Boundaries, and …

    May 3, 2018 · The theory of plate tectonics is the unifying framework of modern geology. It explains how the Earth’s rigid outer shell — the lithosphere — is divided into large slabs called …

  6. 2 Plate Tectonics – An Introduction to Geology

    Describe how the ideas behind plate tectonics started with Alfred Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift Describe the physical and chemical layers of the Earth and how they affect …

  7. Plate Tectonics Theory, Diagrams, Boundaries - GEOLOGY.COM

    What is Plate Tectonics? Plate tectonics is a theory about how Earth's lithosphere is divided into a series of rigid plates; and, how movements of these plates produce earthquakes, volcanoes, …

  8. Plate Tectonics – Introduction to Earth Science - Virginia Tech

    Plate tectonics is a unifying theory; it explains nearly all of the major geologic processes on Earth. Since its early inception in the 1950s and 1960s, geologists have been guided by this …

  9. 5.8: Plate Tectonics - Geosciences LibreTexts

    Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large-scale motion of Earth’s lithosphere. This theoretical model builds on the concept of continental drift which was developed during …

  10. Theory of Plate Tectonics | Earth Science - Lumen Learning

    Using your hands and words, explain to someone how plate tectonics works. Be sure you describe how continents drift and how seafloor spreading provides a mechanism for …