https://www.pitara.com/tags/plate-tectonics/Recent content in Plate Tectonics on Pitara Kids NetworkHugoen-usSat, 13 Jun 2026 21:46:31 +0530https://www.pitara.com/science-for-kids/5ws-and-h/how-do-earthquakes-happen/Thu, 15 Aug 2002 04:16:22 +0000https://www.pitara.com/science-for-kids/5ws-and-h/how-do-earthquakes-happen/<p>Simply put, the shaking of the earth caused by a sudden shifting of rocks below its surface, is called an earthquake. The earths crust or outermost layer, is not made of one single piece of solid rock. It is actually made up of independent sheets of rocks called tectonic plates.</p> <figure class="image-medium has-caption"> <a href="https://www.pitara.com/media/earth-tectonic-plates.jpg" aria-label="Link to larger image"> <img src="https://www.pitara.com/media/earth-tectonic-plates_hu_1b3c5d5a2f28b356.jpg" srcset="https://www.pitara.com/media/earth-tectonic-plates_hu_8fc26a0466edf2bd.jpg 320w, https://www.pitara.com/media/earth-tectonic-plates_hu_1b3c5d5a2f28b356.jpg 900w" sizes="(min-width: 900px) 900px, 320px" alt="The tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century." height="505" width="900" loading="lazy"> </a> <figcaption>The tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century.</figcaption> </figure> <p>These plates slide against each other, giving rise to physical changes in the earths topography. The places where these tectonic plates meet each other, are called fault lines.</p>