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Why can continental crust displace more of the mantle than oceanic crust can?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
the mantle is a hot ocean of lava basically and on it floats a series of tectonic plates, on the surface of the plates is the crust. there is your answer hope it helps.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agobecause it is much thicker
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What is the rigid part of the tectonic plates that is made up of oceanic crust or continental crust and the upper mantle?
the lithoseshere
What happens when an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate?
when oceanic crust and continental crust collide, the oceanic crust sinks down beneath the continental crust. this is called subduction.
Why does oceanic crust dive underneath continental crust?
This process is known as subduction and occurs at convergent plate boundaries because oceanic crust is denser than continental crust.
Continental and oceanic crust?
The two parts of the crust that make up the earth. The continental supports land while the oceanic crust is at the bottom of the ocean. - Anonymous
How does the earths mantle differ from its crust?
Inner core: 2450 km thick Outer core: 2300 km thick Lower mantle: 2500 km thick Upper Mantle: 400 km thick continental crust: 30-70 km thick Oceanic Crust: 6 km thick
Why would a certain thickness of continental crust displace less of the mantle than the same thickness of oceanic crust?
Because its less dense
Does the continental or the oceanic crust extend farther into the mantle?
The continental crust because it is thicker than the oceanic crust
Why does the oceanic crust sit lower in the mantle than the continental crust?
Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust.
Why does the continental crust float higher on the mantle than on the oceanic crust?
the oceanic crust is more dense therefore it sinks lower than continental crust
What characteristics of continental crust allow it to float higher on the mantle than oceanic cruast?
Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust.
Why is oceanic crust always subducted underneath the continental crust?
Oceanic crust subducts under continental crust because it is denser. Continental crust's density is too low for it to be forced into the mantle.
Where does the oceanic crust begin?
The continental shelf is normally made out of continental crust, the oceanic crust begins at the base of the continental rise. However in most places the oceanic crust near the continental margins is covered by continental sediments (eroded form the continents) carried down onto the Oceanic planes by deep sea canyons running off the continental rises.
Why does the continental crust go father down into the mantle than the oceanic crust?
Continental crust, on average, is much thicker than oceanic crust. Because of the principles of isostacy and buoyancy, the continental crust will protrude more deeply into the asthenosphere than oceanic crust.
Why does continental crusts stand higher on the mantle then oceanic crust?
Because Oceanic crust is more dense and the Continental Crust is mountains which are a lot taller than sea floor.
How do continental crust differ from oceanic?
Continental crust is predominantly composed mostly of rock of a granitic composition, higher in silica and aluminum, with layers of sedimentary rock above. Oceanic crust is predominantly basaltic (higher in iron and magnesium), darker, thinner, more dense, and formed from rapid cooling of lava.
What happens to mantle rock descending oceanic crust scrapes past continental crust?
The mantle rock descending from the oceanic crust causes the water in oceanic crust to be released. This lowers the melting point of the rock and causes it to melt.
Why do convergent oceanic plates subduct but continental plates do not usually respond in this way?
Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust, dense enough to sink into the mantle. Continental crust is not dense enough to do this.
