Question

what happens when stress builds at faults? energy is absorbed. rock can bend and break. plates form on the lithosphere. earthquakes develop at earths surface.

Explanation:

When stress builds at faults, rocks are subjected to forces. Over time, this stress can cause rocks to deform (bend) and if the stress exceeds the rock's strength, it breaks. This sudden release of energy (from the breaking) can lead to earthquakes. Energy is not absorbed in a way that stops this process (the energy is released). Plate formation on the lithosphere is a broader tectonic process not directly about stress at faults in the context of immediate effects like rock bending/breaking and earthquake development. Earthquakes develop due to the movement along faults (caused by stress - rock breakage), not just randomly at the surface.

Answer:

Rock can bend and break. Earthquakes develop at Earth's surface.