plate tectonics vs tectonics

plate tectonics and tectonics both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
plate tectonics	Yes	No	No	No
tectonics	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, plate tectonics and tectonics are synonyms defined as:

plate tectonics and tectonics: the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth's crust

Other synonyms of plate tectonics include plate tectonic theory.

plate tectonics (noun)	tectonics (noun)
the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth's crust	the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth's crust
	the science of architecture