Which scientific process is responsible for the movement of tectonic plates?

The movement of tectonic plates is primarily driven by convection, which occurs in the Earth's mantle. This process involves the transfer of heat from the Earth's core to the mantle, leading to the movement of semi-fluid rock. As the mantle material heats up, it becomes less dense and rises towards the Earth's crust. Upon cooling, it becomes denser and sinks back down. This continuous cycle creates a flow that exerts force on the tectonic plates, causing them to shift, collide, or slide past one another at their boundaries.

Subduction, while related to tectonic activity, specifically refers to the process where one plate moves under another and into the mantle, but it is a consequence of the broader convection currents that drive the plate movements. In contrast, evaporation and condensation are processes related to the water cycle and atmospheric phenomena and do not directly contribute to tectonic plate movement.