02. Why do Plates Move?

How does convection current in the mantle cause the plates to move?

• The materials in the mantle are heated by the high temperature in the core.

• The heated materials becomes less dense and rise to the earth surface

• It spreads out below the crust and drags the plates above it, to move away from each other (divergent plates).

• The semi-molten rock cools, becomes denser and sinks towards the mantle and cause the plates above it, to move towards each other (convergent plates).

• The process continues and the convection current in the mantle causes the plates to move.

Watch this video on Plate Tectonics

More on types of plate boundaries: https://earthhow.com/plate-tectonics-types-divergent-convergent-transform-plates/

Update - look at the birth of a volcanic island in South Pacific - http://www.anonews.co/boat-crew-island/