Convection Currents
The mantle is made of much denser, thicker material, because of this the plates "float" on it like oil floats on water.
Many geologists believe that the mantle "flows" because of convection currents. Convection currents are caused by the very hot material at the deepest part of the mantle rising, then cooling, sinking again and then heating, rising and repeating the cycle over and over. The next time you heat anything like soup or pudding in a pan you can watch the convection currents move in the liquid. When the convection currents flow in the mantle they also move the crust. The crust gets a free ride with these currents. A conveyor belt in a factory moves boxess like the convection currents in the mantle moves the plates of the Earth.
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids (i.e. liquids, gases) and rheids.
The mantle is made of much denser, thicker material, because of this the plates "float" on it like oil floats on water.
Many geologists believe that the mantle "flows" because of convection currents. Convection currents are caused by the very hot material at the deepest part of the mantle rising, then cooling, sinking again and then heating, rising and repeating the cycle over and over. The next time you heat anything like soup or pudding in a pan you can watch the convection currents move in the liquid. When the convection currents flow in the mantle they also move the crust. The crust gets a free ride with these currents. A conveyor belt in a factory moves boxess like the convection currents in the mantle moves the plates of the Earth.
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids (i.e. liquids, gases) and rheids.