Construct an explanation in 3 sentences describing the gradual process of plate tectonics accounting for

Question

A) the distribution of fossils on different continents,
B) the occurrence of earthquakes, and
C) continental and ocean floor features (including mountains, volcanoes, faults, and trenches).

Answer 1

Plate tectonics is the theory that explains the movement of the Earth's lithospheric plates, which leads to the gradual reshaping of continents over millions of years. This movement accounts for the distribution of fossils across different continents, as species that were once connected can be found on separate landmasses due to their drift, while geological interactions at plate boundaries produce earthquakes and create diverse features like mountains, volcanoes, faults, and trenches through processes such as subduction and continental collision. As plates continue to shift, they not only redistribute land and organisms but also redefine the landscape, forming new ocean floors, altering existing geographical features, and leading to significant seismic activity.