The best explanation for why Earth's lithospheric plates move is due to the process of plate tectonics. This theory states that the Earth's lithosphere, which is made up of several large and small plates, is constantly moving due to the underlying convecting mantle. The heat generated from the Earth's core causes convection currents in the mantle, which push the plates around on the surface of the Earth. This movement occurs at plate boundaries, where the plates can collide, move apart, or slide past each other, resulting in various geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain ranges.
