Final answer:
The correct term for the theory describing the movement of Earth's tectonic plates is plate tectonics. This fundamental geological theory explains significant natural phenomena such as continental drift and the formation of geological features.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the theory describing the movement of the plates is called “plate motion theory” is false. The correct term for the theory that explains the movement of Earth's tectonic plates is plate tectonics. This theory is fundamental to geology, similar to how evolution by natural selection is to biology or how gravity is to understanding the orbits of planets. Plate tectonics describes how slow motions within the Earth's mantle cause large segments of the crust, known as tectonic plates, to move. This movement leads to significant geological events such as the formation of mountains and the gradual “drifting” of continents. Additionally, plate tectonics acts as a cooling system for the planet by transporting heat from the interior of the Earth to space.
Lithospheric plates, comprising Earth's crust and the uppermost rigid part of the mantle, are involved in different types of boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform. Their movement can result in earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the creation of various geological structures. By understanding plate tectonics, geologists can reconstruct Earth's history and make sense of the geographic distribution of many natural phenomena.