Question

how are the pieces of crust able to push and pull against each othe

Answer 1

The pieces of Earth's crust are able to push and pull against each other due to the movement of tectonic plates. These plates are large sections of the Earth's crust that float on the semi-fluid layer of the mantle below.

The movement of tectonic plates is driven by the heat generated from Earth's core, causing convection currents in the mantle. These currents cause the plates to either move apart, collide, or slide past each other, creating various types of tectonic boundaries such as divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.

At divergent boundaries, the plates move away from each other, creating new crust as magma rises to fill the gap. At convergent boundaries, the plates collide, with one plate sliding beneath the other in a process called subduction. This can lead to the formation of mountains, deep ocean trenches, and volcanic activity. At transform boundaries, the plates slide past each other horizontally, causing earthquakes.

Overall, the movement of tectonic plates allows the Earth's crust to constantly shift and change over time, leading to various geological processes and phenomena.