GEOLOGY

EARTH SCIENCE

TECTONICS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What drives tectonic plate movement?
A
gravity
B
coriolis effect
C
convection currents
D
the earth’s magnetic core
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Magma is the molten rock below the crust, in the mantle. 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: -The common, simplified explanation for why tectonic plates are moving is that they’re carried along on currents in the upper mantle, the slowly flowing layer of rock just below the Earth’s crust. Converging currents drive plates into each other.

Detailed explanation-3: -The motion of tectonic plates is driven by convection in the mantle. In simple terms, convection is the idea that dense, cold things sink, and buoyant, warm things rise. In the earth the cold sinking things are slabs (subducting plates) and the warm things are plumes, or just rising material from deeper in the mantle.

Detailed explanation-4: -convection currents are a process in which the materials inside the mantle heat up and rise to the surface whilst the cooler liquid sinks; as it sinks it then heats up and rises again. This continuous cycle is established: hot liquid rising, cold liquid descending. These currents cause the tectonic plates to move.

Detailed explanation-5: -As tectonic plates slowly move away from each other, heat from the mantle’s convection currents makes the crust more plastic and less dense. The less-dense material rises, often forming a mountain or elevated area of the seafloor. Eventually, the crust cracks.

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