tectonics vs plate tectonic theory

tectonics and plate tectonic theory both are nouns.

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

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

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

Other synonyms of tectonics include plate tectonics.

tectonics (noun)	plate tectonic theory (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