Question

Why is the theory of plate tectonics not a law?

Answer 1

Hint:The law usually predicts exactly what will happen. Newton's law of universal gravitation provides an accurate mathematical formula for calculating the attractive force between two masses. But Newton's law is not a theory of universal gravitation, because it does not explain why such attraction exists.

Complete answer:
The theory of plate tectonics cannot accurately predict the speed or direction of plate movement. Plate movement was first proposed under the continental drift hypothesis of large-scale rapid and sudden movement of the continent in the past. The movement of the plate observed today is very slow, but the theory does not specify the speed at which the plate can move in the past or in the future. Therefore, the theory of plate tectonics cannot be used as a law.

A theory explains why and how something happened. Einstein's general theory of relativity explains why two masses are attractive. Good theories will make good predictions. Einstein's theory accurately predicted the curvature of light caused by the gravitational curvature of space in a solar eclipse.

Einstein's theory was accepted because it explained precisely what was observed and predicted what would happen (Einstein's theory not only explained why he made accurate predictions, which is why some people say it should now be called By Laws and Theories)

Because plate tectonics explains things, it is a theory, because it does not provide a method to accurately calculate when and where plates move, so it is not a law.

Note:
Plate tectonics explains the Middle Atlantic Ridge, the African Rift Valley, subduction zones, earthquakes, volcanic locations, and mountains. Plate tectonics explains the motion of the earth better than previous geo-scan theory.