In plate tectonics, a layer near fie surface of the earth is considered to be rigid (non-deformable in plan view) and is called then lithosphere. the layer is

In plate tectonics, a layer near fie surface of the Earth is considered to be rigid (non-deformable in plan view) and is called then lithosphere. The layer is usually thicker than crust and its from several tens of kilometers in young ocean floor to about 300 km in stable continental interiors. The lithosphere is split up into a number of pieces amongst which relative motion is possible. An important feature of plate tectonic is its recognition of the fact that continental shaped do not deform of course, this is only approximation which is almost.