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Earthquakes can occur anywhere, but occur with regularity along tectonic plate boundaries which are by definition faults in the Earth's lithosphere. Plates are independently moving slabs of hard rock that pull apart from each other (divergent fault), grind past each other (transform fault), and push into each other (convergent fault). All three types of plate boundaries can produce earthquakes as the lithospheric plates either fracture from stress or the stress from grinding or collision is released when rock from either side of the fault snaps into a new position.

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14y ago
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9y ago

As tectonic plates move, their edges experience stress. If part of a plate cannot move freely, energy from the stress on the gay rocks builds up. At some point, the stress becomes so great that it breaks rock along a fault, causing an earthquake.

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10y ago

It's because tectonic plates sometimes move. They collide sometimes. That makes earthquakes.

EDIT: Tectonic plates move, that's true, and they 'rub' against one another, it's at those points of friction (along the boundaries) that tension gathers. As tension gathers, past certain critical points, the energy gets released, and the momentum is freed into what we call earthquakes.

EDIT2: The reason that earthquakes occur more around Tectonic plates is because they grind and move on each other and that is what causes the earth quakes to happen. After they grind long enough fault lines spread out towards the middl of the plates much like a crack in a windshield of a car spreads out. So earthquakes will happen along those fault lines as well as the area around the plates.

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12y ago

The reason for the forming of faults around plate boundaries is because the plates push or pull the crust so much the crust breaks.

-Jeff

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9y ago

Most faults occur along plate boundaries, where plates push or pull the crust so much that the crust breaks.

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14y ago

most faults occur along plate boundaries where the forces of plate motion push or pull the crust so much that the crust breaks

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11y ago

because they do

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9y ago

no

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Q: Why do faults occur along plate boundaries?
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Related questions

Do earthquakes mostly occur at faults that are away from plate boundaries?

False. Earthquakes mostly occur along faults that are at or very near to plate boundaries.


Where do the majority faults occur?

The majority of faults occur in the plate boundaries.


Where do majority of faults occurs?

The majority of faults occur in the plate boundaries.


Why. do. faults often occur along plate boundaries?

Faults occur because the forces of plate motion push or pull the crust so much that the crust breaks.


Do earthquakes often occur at at faults that are away from plate boundaries?

Yes, but not as often as earthquakes happen near plate boundaries


Where should you find folds and faults?

along tectonic plate boundaries.


A large number of volcanoes and earthquakes occur along the ring of fire because several faults exist at plate boundaries in the region?

True


What type of plate boundarries found in andesitic valcano?

Plate boundaries are not found in volcanoes.Volcanoes occur along plate boundaries usually along convergent boundaries


Do earthquakes most often occur at faults that are away from plate boundary?

Earthquakes infrequently occur away from plate boundaries. Most earthquakes occur at plate boundaries because of the stress caused by the interacting plates.


Is it true that earthquakes most often occur at faults that are away from plate boundaries?

yes


Where do volcanoes occur around divergent plate boundaries?

yes they do occur along divergent boundaries


A zone of shallow earthquakes along normal faults is typical of?

Divergent plate boundaries.