Key learning points

1. Occurrences of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions suggest Earth’s layers are not static but interact with each other.
2. Evidence, such as rock formations and fossils, supports the idea that the continents were once all joined up.
3. Earth’s crust is broken into pieces known as tectonic plates, which move very, very slowly.
4. Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that explains how tectonic plates move and interact with each other.
5. Plate tectonics help scientists better understand and predict changes to Earth’s surface.

Keywords

• Continental drift - A theory that proposed Earth's continents were once one landmass and gradually drifted apart over time.

• Continental crust - Parts of Earth's crust that are found below landmasses is referred to as continental crust.

• Oceanic crust - Parts of Earth's crust that are found below oceans is referred to as oceanic crust.

• Tectonic plate - A tectonic plate consists of Earth's crust and the uppermost mantle that lies beneath it.

• Plate tectonics - A theory that explains why continental landmasses move due to tectonic plates.

Common misconception