Why do tectonic plates move GCSE?

One explanation for plate movements is slab pull. Plates are extremely heavy so gravity acts upon them, pulling them apart. Alternatively, as shown in the diagram, convection currents under the Earth’s crust transfer heat, which rises through the surface and cools back down in a circular motion.

Why do tectonic plates have to move?

The plates can be thought of like pieces of a cracked shell that rest on the hot, molten rock of Earth’s mantle and fit snugly against one another. The heat from radioactive processes within the planet’s interior causes the plates to move, sometimes toward and sometimes away from each other.

Why do tectonic plates move BBC Bitesize?

The plates move because of convection currents in the Earth’s mantle. These are driven by the heat produced by the natural decay of radioactive elements in the Earth. Where tectonic plates meet, the Earth’s crust becomes unstable as the plates push against each other, or ride under or over each other.

Why do tectonic plates move quizlet?

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.

What happens to tectonic plates at a convergent boundary?

At convergent plate boundaries, oceanic crust is often forced down into the mantle where it begins to melt. Magma rises into and through the other plate, solidifying into granite, the rock that makes up the continents. Thus, at convergent boundaries, continental crust is created and oceanic crust is destroyed.

What drives plate tectonics?

Heat and gravity are fundamental to the process

Lithospheric plates are part of a planetary scale thermal convection system. 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.

What is it called when two tectonic plates collide and one dives beneath the other?

In some cases, however, a convergent plate boundary can result in one tectonic plate diving underneath another. This process, called “subduction,” involves an older, denser tectonic plate being forced deep into the planet underneath a younger, less-dense tectonic plate.

What happens when tectonic plates move?

When the plates move they collide or spread apart allowing the very hot molten material called lava to escape from the mantle. When collisions occur they produce mountains, deep underwater valleys called trenches, and volcanoes.

What are the 3 different possible causes of plate movement How do they differ from each other?

The movement of the plates creates three types of tectonic boundaries: convergent, where plates move into one another; divergent, where plates move apart; and transform, where plates move sideways in relation to each other.

What happens when tectonic plates collide with force?

Answer: When two plates carrying continents collide, the continental crust buckles and rocks pile up, creating towering mountain ranges. … When an ocean plate collides with another ocean plate or with a plate carrying continents, one plate will bend and slide under the other. This process is called subduction.

Can you describe what happens when plates A&B collide?

Answer: The volcanic arc is formed to “plate A” as it collides with “plate B”. The collision of these two plates results in the oceanic current which is generated.

What type of force occurs where tectonic plates collide?

Slab Resistance

This force acts as a plate collides with another plate boundary. It directly resists all the driving forces associated with plate tectonics. This force occurs only at subduction zones (ie ocean-continent and ocean-ocean boundaries).

How do the plates move at a transform boundary?

At transform boundaries, plates move past each other. This is one of the most common causes of earthquakes. At convergent boundaries, plates move toward each other. They can push together and cause mountain ranges to form.

How do the plates move when we feel that the ground is shaking?

The tectonic plates are always slowly moving, but they get stuck at their edges due to friction. When the stress on the edge overcomes the friction, there is an earthquake that releases energy in waves that travel through the earth’s crust and cause the shaking that we feel.

Why don’t we feel the plates moving?

We don’t usually feel this movement because it is quite gradual – just a few millimetres every year. With time, the pressure of this movement builds up, and there is a sudden shift inside the Earth that we feel as an earthquake.

When tectonic plates push with each other is called?

When tectonic plate push with each other that is called convergent plate boundary. Explanation: PLate boundary refers to a place where two plates either push or move in oppsite direction or slide away.

What is the reason why the plates Cannot Glide each other?

The relative motion of the plates is horizontal. They can occur underwater or on land, and crust is neither destroyed nor created. Because of friction, the plates cannot simply glide past each other.

Are the plates moving towards the same or different directions?

Each plate is moving in a different direction, but the exact direction depends on the “reference frame,” or viewpoint, in which you are looking at the motion.

What happens when you slide the two crackers against each other?

Transform Boundaries: Put the two crackers side by side, and slide one forward (away from you), and one backward (toward you). When plates slide past one another in this way, they often get caught on one another. When they break free, an earthquake happens. San Francisco is located on a transform fault.

What happens to the piece of paper when the water was disturbed?

Water drops and porous paper

As water diffused rapidly through the porous structure of the paper towel, the edge of the wet area at which dry paper first encountered water expanded. The most striking feature of the thermal images is that this edge stood out as a “halo” of heat as it spread.

How does each plate get its name?

The Earth is always on the move due to the motion of the tectonic plates. Seven of the major plates make up most of the seven continents and the Pacific Ocean. They are named after nearby landmasses, oceans, or regions.