how does the movement of tectonic plates affect geography and topography?

Answer 1

Mostly, the movement of tectonic plates just causes earthquakes when the plates slide or grind against one another. Two dense plates that collide may force eachother upwards creating mountains. Also, if one plate slides and the adjacent plate stays stationary, it may cause a deformation of the surface. Plates moving apart may cause fissures and cracks in the surface, but these are rare.

Answer 2

Plates moving apart from one another causing cracks in the surface is NOT rare. There are numerous rift valleys and normal fault basins all over the planet and the mid ocean ridges are formed by spreading plates. Colliding continental or oceanic plates create mountains. Oceanic-Continental collisions create subduction zones which are characterized by ocean trenches and coastal volcanism.. Plates moving over a hot spot create island chains (like Hawaii). Plates sliding past each other create transform faults which can offset the landscape over time (like the San Andreas).