How are the continential plates able to drift if they are so tight together?

Question

In science books, they look like a jigsaw puzzle.

Answer 1

The continental plates do not actually 'drift' as you may think of an ice cube 'drifting' in water. Nor are the plates all connected together like one would view a jigsaw puzzle.

The first idea you have to realize is that the continental plates overlap each other. The 'outlines' you see that appear jigsaw-like are more often than not areas where two plates meet, and one plate is actually going under the one next to it- this is called 'subduction'.

Which plate goes under which plate depends on the age and weight of the plates-- continental crust is lighter than oceanic plate, so more often than not it is the oceanic piece of the plate that will 'subduct'.

There are areas, however, where the plates do actually meet like a jigsaw puzzle-- these places are known as "Strike-slip" faults, where two plates slide past each other rather than 'subducting'.

As for the plates moving, that happens due to the upper mantle (the liquid part under the crust) creating convective currents-- these 'currents of mantle material' cause the plates to move and subduct (or slide past each other!)

And yes, there are plates where continental crust and continental crust meet. What happens then? More often than not, mountains form-- The Himalayas are a prime example of this situation (the Indian plate smashed into the Asian plate).

There's more to it, but I hope this helps a little bit!

Answer 2

There are many plates, each are moving in a particular direction. The when two plates meet they build up tremendous force at the "tight spots", eventually the "tight spots" give thus creating the "earth quake".