Question: which layer of the earth is broken up into tectonic plates
Answer: Plate tectonics ( from the Late Latin tectonicus , from the Greek : τεκτονικός `` pertaining to building '' ) is a scientific theory describing the large - scale motion of seven large plates and the movements of a larger number of smaller plates of the Earth 's lithosphere , since tectonic processes began on Earth between 3 and 3.