It's not so much about pull as push. On the other side of the plate there is most likely growth, through something like sea floor spreading. With this new growth of plate there is no where for the other edges of the plate to go, so subduction occurs when that edge slides under another plate and remelts. Earthquakes pull the plates.
The force that pulls tectonic plates toward each other is known as "slab pull." This occurs when a dense oceanic plate descends into the mantle at a subduction zone, generating a gravitational force that pulls the rest of the plate along with it.
On the other side of the plate there is most likely growth, through something like sea floor spreading.
That is called subduction.
The force that occurs when plates are pushed together is called compressional force. This type of force causes the plates to collide and can lead to the formation of mountain ranges or subduction zones, depending on the type of plate boundary involved.
In a subduction zone, the dense, cold oceanic plate collides with the lighter, warmer continental plate and is forced down underneath it into the mantle. The motion is downwards and the force is called "slab pull".
The circular motion of heated materials in the Earth's mantle is thought to be the driving force behind plate tectonics. This convection current in the mantle causes plates on the Earth's surface to move and interact with each other, leading to processes like seafloor spreading, subduction, and continental drift.
slab pull
The force behind tectonic plates coming together is typically caused by the process of subduction, where one plate is forced beneath another due to differences in density and composition. This subduction zone creates a convergent boundary, leading to the collision and eventual uplift of the Earth's crust.
When two plates collide with enough force, faulting occurs, breaking the crust. Faulting (Apex)
An undersea mountain chain where new ocean floor is produced
At a convergent boundary, tectonic plates are typically pushed together by the force of subduction where one plate is forced beneath the other, or by collision where the plates directly collide with each other. This movement can be driven by the force of mantle convection, where heat from the Earth's core causes the mantle to flow in a circular motion.
When a sliding plate slides under another plate, it usually causes the plates to buckle due to the pressure and force applied. This can lead to deformation or bending of the plates as they interact with each other. If the force is strong enough, it may also lead to one of the plates getting lifted or displaced.