Final answer:
The movement of Earth's plates is driven by convection currents in the mantle, caused by heat from the Earth's core. Evidence supporting plate tectonics includes divergent boundaries, convergent boundaries, transform boundaries, and various geological features.
Step-by-step explanation:
The movement of Earth's plates is known through the study of plate tectonics. The mechanism that drives the plates is convection currents in the mantle, which is the layer below the Earth's crust. These convection currents are caused by heat from the Earth's core, which creates a cycle of rising and sinking material, resulting in the movement of the plates.
The evidence supporting plate tectonics includes the existence of divergent boundaries, where plates move apart, creating new crust; convergent boundaries, where plates collide, causing earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges; and transform boundaries, where plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes.
Other evidence includes the distribution of fossils and rock formations that match across continents and the presence of mid-ocean ridges and trenches. Additionally, the discovery of magnetic anomalies on the seafloor supports the theory of plate tectonics.
Learn more about Plate tectonics