The Surface of the planet is broken into several

The surface of the planet is broken into several plate tectonics.

Explanation:

A tectonic plate is a part of the Earth's crust (or lithosphere). The surface of the Earth consists of seven large tectonic plates, and several smaller ones.

These plates shift at a very slow pace, a few centimeters a year. The mechanism behind this is known as plate tectonics.

Tectonic plates do not necessarily stop at the edge of a continent or the continental shelf. In some cases, the adjacent oceanic crust (the Earth's crust under the ocean) also belongs to the same plate. Some plates are therefore made up of both continental crust and oceanic crust. Other plates consist entirely of one of both types of crust.

well in short tectonic plates but if your looking for a more in depth answer just let me know