0
Tectonic plates are composed of the crust and upper mantle rock which is lighter than the less dense mantle. Rising and falling convection currents in the mantle cause imperceptibly slow movements in the plates (on the rate of fingernail growth). The source of the heat driving the convection currents comes from residual heat from the Earth's formative processes, pressure from gravity, and from radioactive decay of elements.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What causes continental plates to move?
the continental plates are caused when silicon,silica and dioxid combined together making the plates split and then it causes the plates to move.
What is the force that causes plates to move sideways past each other?
Tension is the force that causes plates to move sideways past each other. This can cause built up stress that releases suddenly and causes earthquakes.
What causes the continents and the earth's major plates to move?
continental drift
What may be the main cause of the plates to move?
Plates at our planet's surface move because of the intense heat in the Earth's core that causes molten rock in the mantle layer to move.
What is the process called that causes the tectonic plates to move?
Its more ov a movement really not a process. Tectonic plates move due to convection currents in the mantle.
What causes continental plates to move?
the continental plates are caused when silicon,silica and dioxid combined together making the plates split and then it causes the plates to move.
What causes your plates to move?
convection currents!
What causes the plates to move that make an earthquake?
transform boundaries
What causes plates to stop moving temporarily?
Friction causes plates to stop moving temporarily. The motion of the magma under the plates will cause the plates to move again.
Which of earth's layers causes plates to move?
The Asthensphere.
What is stresses in tectonic plates?
Magma moving underneath the earth causes tectonic plates to move about.
Is the force that causes plates to move sideways past each other.?
Tension is the force that causes plates to move sideways past each other. This can cause built up stress that releases suddenly and causes earthquakes.
What causes the Continental and oceani plates to move?
The tectonic plates move because of the great amount of liquid rock, or magma that they 'float' on and get pushed by.
What is the force that causes plates to move sideways past each other?
Tension is the force that causes plates to move sideways past each other. This can cause built up stress that releases suddenly and causes earthquakes.
What type of transfer causes plates to move?
Divergent, convergent and transforming.
What causes the continents and the earth's major plates to move?
continental drift
What causes earths plates to move continuously?
Convection in the earth's mantle.
