What is the theory that explains the movement of Earth’s lithospheric plates?

The theory that describes the movement of Earth’s lithospheric plates is plate tectonics. This comprehensive framework explains not just the movement of these plates, but also how their interactions drive various geological processes, such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges.

Plate tectonics posits that the Earth's outer shell, or lithosphere, is divided into several large and rigid plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. These plates move due to forces generated by convection currents in the mantle, where heat causes material to rise and fall. The interactions among these plates can lead to divergent, convergent, or transform boundaries, each shaping the Earth's surface in distinct ways.

In contrast, continental drift refers specifically to the gradual movement of continents over time and was an early theory proposed by Alfred Wegener. While it laid the groundwork for understanding plate movement, it does not encompass the broader mechanisms of plate tectonics.

Convection currents are related to the movement of material in the mantle driving plate tectonics, but they are not the theory itself; rather, they explain one of the processes behind the movements of the plates.

The geological time scale provides a framework for understanding Earth's history, encompassing the age and timing of geological events, but