question_answer

      What are Tectonic plates? Distinguish between converging and diverging tectonic plates?                          

Answer:

                  Tectonic Plates According to the "Theory of Plate Tectonics", the Earth's crust (upper part) has been formed out of seven major and some minor plates. They comprise the Earth's solid upper crust as well as parts of the denser mantle below. The movement of the plates results in the building up of stresses within the plates and continental rocks above, leading to folding, faulting and volcanic activity. When some plates move or come towards each other, they are called converging plates. In this case they may collide, crumble or slide under each other. When some plates move away from each other, they are called diverging plates. In this case they form new crust or the sea floor spreads.