Driving Plate Motion

What derives plates motion?

The motion of tectonic plates is primarily driven by the movement of molten rock, or magma,
within the Earth's mantle. This is known as mantle convection, which is the process of heat
transfer and movement of material within the Earth's mantle.

As the hot magma rises and cools, it moves laterally beneath the Earth's crust, pushing the
tectonic plates apart at divergent boundaries, or pulling them together at convergent boundaries.
This movement can also create transform boundaries, where two plates slide past each other.

Other factors that can contribute to plate motion include gravitational forces, the distribution of
mass within the Earth, and the shape of the Earth's surface. However, mantle convection is
considered to be the primary driver of plate tectonics.