Question: the part of the earth on which the tectonic plates are able to move is the
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.