Result From The Movement Of Plates. The outer shell of the Earth is a series of large blocks called the tectonic plates. The continents are embedded in the plates and drift passively with them which over millions of years results in significant changes in Earths geography.
Earthquakes and volcanoes are the direct result of the movement of tectonic plates at fault lines. Most of the earthquakes and volcanoes around the Pacific ocean basina pattern known as the ring of fireare due to the movement of tectonic plates in this region. The thing that is common in rift zones is high volcanic activity.
The plates catch on each other due to friction.
The area between the plates is known as the rift zone. The movements of tectonic plates results in the building up of stresses within the plates and the continental rocks above. Earthquakes and volcanoes are the short-term results of this tectonic movement. This movement is the plates pulling away from each other.