Tectonic plates are the huge slabs of rocks that make up the outer crust of the earth.
According to the scientists, there are eight major tectonic plates and a number of minor plates that act as the outer skin of the earth.
The plates under the oceans are known as the oceanic plates and the ones under continents are known as the continental plates.
These plates keep moving away from or towards each other.
Plate tectonics play an important role in shaping our planet.
It is responsible for mountain range formation, oceanic trenches and occurrence of earthquakes and volcanoes among many other geologic phenomena.