How do tectonic plates grow and shrink?

Tectonic plates grow through processes such as seafloor spreading, where magma rises from the mantle at mid-ocean ridges, creating new crust. Conversely, they shrink at subduction zones, where one plate is forced beneath another and is melted back into the mantle. Additionally, tectonic activity can lead to the recycling of materials as plates interact at their boundaries. Overall, these dynamic processes contribute to the continuous reshaping of the Earth's lithosphere.