Question

The idea that earth’s lithosphere is divided into large, moving sections is called the _____.

Answer 1

The earth’s lithosphere is divided into large, moving sections which are called the tectonic plates. Tectonic plates have two types namely oceanic crust and the continental crust. The lithosphere is also divided into major and minor tectonic plates. Major plates have an area more than 20 million km square. Example of these are African plate and Antartic plate. While Minor plates which are smaller than the major plates which is less than 20 million km square.

Answer 2

The answer is plate tectonics theory.

The idea that earth’s lithosphere is divided into large, moving sections is called the Plate Tectonics Theory.

The Plate Tectonics Theory is not attributed to any single person or geologist. In fact, it developed over a number of years due to scientific exploration and the research of the Earth's crust.

The theory explains how the Earth is divided into large sections of plates, that are always moving, leadint to changing shape of the landmass on Earth. The movement of these plates is what casues earthquakes.

It is based on the theory of continental drift and was widely accepted in the scientific community by the 1950s.