Where is a plate located in relation to the Earth's crust?

A tectonic plate is a massive slab of the Earth's lithosphere, which includes the very outer layer of the Earth known as the crust, along with the upper part of the mantle. While the crust is part of the lithosphere, it actually sits atop the plates. Therefore, understanding the placement of tectonic plates requires knowing that they are located directly beneath the crust, forming the base layer beneath the Earth's surface where geological activities, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, occur.

This positioning is essential in the study of plate tectonics, as it explains how the movement of these plates can lead to changes in the Earth's surface. The plates float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them, but they are primarily situated underneath the crust itself, making it a fundamental aspect of geology and Earth science.