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BlakeThe movement of Earth's tectonic plates is caused by the motion of convection currents in the mantle. These currents are driven by the heat generated from the decay of radioactive isotopes and by the heat leftover from the formation of the Earth. As the mantle material moves, it drags the overlying tectonic plates along with it, causing them to spread apart, collide, or slide past each other.
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Ost geologists thinks that the movement of earths plates is caused by?
Most geologists believe that the movement of the Earth's plates is caused by the process of convection currents in the mantle. These currents are driven by the heat generated from the core of the Earth, which causes the molten rock in the mantle to move in circular patterns, leading to the movement of the tectonic plates.
What causes continental plates to move?
Continental plates move due to the process of plate tectonics, where the plates float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere layer beneath them. This movement is driven by convection currents in the mantle, caused by heat from the Earth's core. When these currents push or pull on the plates, they cause them to move, leading to phenomena like earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountains.
What is the process called that causes the tectonic plates to move?
The process is called plate tectonics. It involves the movement of Earth's lithosphere in separate pieces called tectonic plates, driven by forces such as mantle convection. These plates interact at plate boundaries, leading to various geological phenomena like earthquakes and mountain formation.
What happen as earth's plates move away from each other?
As Earth's plates move away from each other at divergent boundaries, new crust is created as magma rises to the surface and solidifies. This process can result in the formation of features such as mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.
What is the surface on which the lithospheric plates move around earths surface?
The lithospheric plates move around on the asthenosphere, which is a partially molten layer of the Earth's upper mantle. This semi-fluid layer allows the plates to slide and interact with each other.
