GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Tremendous heat and pressure within the earth cause the hot magma to flow in convection currents. These currents cause the movement of the tectonic plates that make up the earth’s crust.

Detailed explanation-2: -As the oceanic plate descends into the mantle some of it melts. This material moves into the mantle above the plate and causes the mantle to melt. This liquid rock, called magma, rises to the surface because it is less dense then the surrounding rock.

Detailed explanation-3: -Convection currents are the result of differential heating. Lighter (less dense), warm material rises while heavier (more dense) cool material sinks. It is this movement that creates circulation patterns known as convection currents in the atmosphere, in water, and in the mantle of Earth.

Detailed explanation-4: -Convection currents are also responsible for the movement of Earth’s plates-a process known as plate tectonics. The magma in the mantle is heated up at the lower portions of the mantle, and then the heated magma rises up and ends up pushing on the plates, causing them to move.

Detailed explanation-5: -Heat and gravity are fundamental to the process The energy source for plate tectonics is Earth’s internal heat while the forces moving the plates are the “ridge push” and “slab pull” gravity forces. It was once thought that mantle convection could drive plate motions.