The Theory of Plate Tectonics

- Plate tectonics is a theory that explains movement, seismicity, volcanism, continental drift, and mountain formations.
- The theory of plate tectonics has equivalently done great for geology what Charles Darwin's theory of evolution did for biology.
- The theory states that the Earth's lithosphere is broken into 7 large, rigid pieces called plates.
     1) African
     2) North American
     3) South American
     4) Eurasia
     5) Indo-Australian
     6) Antarctic
     7) Pacific
- A few other minor plates exist including the Arabian, Nazca, and Philippines plates.
                                                                 - The plates all move in different directions at speeds from 2 cm to 10 cm per year.

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