The theory that's used to explain the movement of crustal plates is the Theory of Plate Techtonics, which was created by scientists in the 1960's. The theory was based on an earlier theory by Alfred Wegner, a German scientist, in 1912. He had observed that the continents appeared to fit together like a puzzle. He also found geological evidence on continents that they had at one time been one giant land mass. In the 1950's and 1960's, geologists found evidence to support this theory. They have used it to explain earthquakes, mountain building, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of the continents and oceans.
Plate tectonics theorizes that the outer part of the Earth is made of thin plates. The plates move on top of the mantle. The mantle is made up of magma, liquid rock. The oceanic and continental plates and the upper mantle form the lithosphere. The fluid rock layer under the lithosphere is called the asthenosphere. The high temperature and pressure in the asthenosphere cause the rocks to move in a fluid manner. The crustal plates, the lithosphere, are able to float on the asthenosphere.
Plate tectonics theorizes that the outer part of the Earth is made of thin plates. The plates move on top of the mantle. The mantle is made up of magma, liquid rock. The oceanic and continental plates and the upper mantle form the lithosphere. The fluid rock layer under the lithosphere is called the asthenosphere. The high temperature and pressure in the asthenosphere cause the rocks to move in a fluid manner. The crustal plates, the lithosphere, are able to float on the asthenosphere.