ELI5: Why do earthquakes happen in some places more than others?

Imagine the Earth is like a giant, cracked eggshell. This "eggshell" is the Earth's crust, and it's broken into big pieces called tectonic plates.

Think of these plates like giant puzzle pieces floating on a very slow-moving, gooey substance. They're always bumping into each other, sliding past each other, or sometimes even pushing under each other.

Some places on Earth are right on the edges of these "puzzle pieces". That's where most earthquakes happen!

Why?

• Friction: When plates try to move past each other, they get stuck. Imagine trying to slide two rough pieces of sandpaper against each other. It gets harder and harder until snap! They suddenly move, releasing all that stored-up energy. That sudden release is an earthquake.

• Plate Boundaries: Areas where plates meet (called plate boundaries) are like busy intersections. Lots of action means lots of potential for bumping, grinding, and earthquakes.

Places in the middle of these "puzzle pieces" (like Kansas or Florida) are much less likely to have big earthquakes. They are far away from the active edges, like being far from the busy intersection. The plates are relatively stable there.

So, earthquakes happen more in some places because those places are located on or near plate boundaries, where the Earth's "puzzle pieces" are constantly moving and interacting, leading to built-up friction and sudden releases of energy.