Science Common Sense

1040 - What is the difference between a tectonic plate and a fault?

Imagine the Earth's surface is broken into big puzzle pieces called 'tectonic plates'. These plates move very slowly, and sometimes they rub against each other.

A 'fault' is a crack or a line where two of these tectonic plates meet and rub against each other. When they move, they can sometimes get stuck and then suddenly move, causing an earthquake. So, a tectonic plate is a big piece of the Earth's surface, and a fault is the line where two of these plates meet and sometimes make the ground shake.