The process when the Earth’s crust breaks is known as faulting. It occurs due to stress from tectonic forces, causing fractures in the crust whereby rocks slip past one another. This process can lead to seismic activity, resulting in earthquakes. Faulting occurs primarily along plate boundaries, where tectonic plates interact. Understanding faulting is essential in predicting and mitigating the impact of earthquakes, as it helps scientists identify fault lines and assess the potential risk to nearby communities.