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Plate Tectonics

Plate tectonics is the scientific theory explaining how Earth's outer shell is broken into large, rigid pieces called plates, which float atop a hotter, slowly flowing layer beneath them. These plates constantly shift—colliding, pulling apart, or sliding past each other—at speeds similar to how fast fingernails grow. This slow motion over millions of years explains major features like mountains, earthquakes, volcanoes, and even the shapes of continents.