<|im_start|>user
What is the theory of plate tectonics and how does it explain the movement of Earth's continents?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
The theory of plate tectonics explains that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large and rigid plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath. These tectonic plates move due to convection currents in the mantle, leading to interactions at their boundaries, such as divergence, convergence, and transform faults. For example, the movement of the North American plate away from the Eurasian plate at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is causing the Atlantic Ocean to widen, which illustrates how plate tectonics accounts for the shifting positions of continents over geological time.<|im_end|>

<|im_start|>user
What is the theory of plate tectonics and how does it explain the movement of Earth's continents?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
The theory of continental drift suggests that continents have been moving over time, which is related to the formation of mountains, earthquakes, and volcanic activity. For instance, the Himalayas were formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. While this response mentions relevant geological processes, it lacks a clear explanation of the plate tectonics theory itself and does not address the mechanisms of plate movement, making it less effective in answering the prompt.<|im_end|>

What is the theory of plate tectonics and how does it explain the movement of Earth's continents?