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when tectonic plates move against each other. they smash each other and sometimes topple over each other(whether on a small scale or a large scale). You can easily visualize this if you take 2 strong blocks and try really hard to push them towards each other.

similarly,if the plates topple over each other on a large scale, then they will form big chunks or lumps of distorted rock, soil etc.

Simply put, those lumps are mountains.

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Movement of plates?

The movement of Earth's tectonic plates is driven by the flow of molten rock in the asthenosphere beneath them. This movement can result in various geological phenomena like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain ranges. The theory of plate tectonics helps explain the shifting and interaction of these large pieces of Earth's outer shell.


How do scientist explain the formation of underwater mountain ranges?

Underwater mountain ranges are often formed by tectonic plate movement, where plates spread apart and magma rises to create new crust. This process, called seafloor spreading, forms underwater mountain ranges like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Subduction zones, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another, can also lead to the formation of underwater mountains.


How can you explain the fact that a mountain has seashells 3000-8000 above sea level?

This phenomenon can be explained by the process of plate tectonics and the movement of Earth's crust over millions of years. The mountain may have once been at the bottom of the sea and was uplifted to its current height through tectonic forces. Over time, erosion and weathering exposed the seashells that were once underwater.


How does sea floor spreading explain the movement of tectonic plates?

Sea floor spreading occurs at mid-ocean ridges where magma rises to create new oceanic crust. As the crust forms, it pushes the existing plates on either side away from the ridge, causing the plates to move. This process helps explain the movement of tectonic plates and how they interact with each other on Earth's surface.


Explain how a fault-block mountain forms?

A fault-block mountain forms when tectonic forces cause blocks of the Earth's crust to be uplifted along faults. As the blocks are uplifted, erosion wears down the surrounding rock, leaving steep, rugged mountain peaks. Over time, these mountains can continue to rise as a result of ongoing tectonic activity.

Related Questions

What is the therory that explain the movement of tectonic plates?

Continental drift


How did suess explain the formation of mountain ranges?

Dr. Seuss did not explain the formation of mountain ranges. He was a children's author and illustrator known for his whimsical stories and imaginative characters, not for scientific explanations. Geologists study processes like tectonic plate movements and erosion to explain the formation of mountain ranges.


Movement of plates?

The movement of Earth's tectonic plates is driven by the flow of molten rock in the asthenosphere beneath them. This movement can result in various geological phenomena like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain ranges. The theory of plate tectonics helps explain the shifting and interaction of these large pieces of Earth's outer shell.


How does the earthquake in japan have to do with science?

Science tries to explain the world. Many scientists study the movement of tectonic plates that cause earthquakes.


How do scientist explain the formation of underwater mountain ranges?

Underwater mountain ranges are often formed by tectonic plate movement, where plates spread apart and magma rises to create new crust. This process, called seafloor spreading, forms underwater mountain ranges like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Subduction zones, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another, can also lead to the formation of underwater mountains.


How can you explain the fact that a mountain has seashells 3000-8000 above sea level?

This phenomenon can be explained by the process of plate tectonics and the movement of Earth's crust over millions of years. The mountain may have once been at the bottom of the sea and was uplifted to its current height through tectonic forces. Over time, erosion and weathering exposed the seashells that were once underwater.


How does sea floor spreading explain the movement of tectonic plates?

Sea floor spreading occurs at mid-ocean ridges where magma rises to create new oceanic crust. As the crust forms, it pushes the existing plates on either side away from the ridge, causing the plates to move. This process helps explain the movement of tectonic plates and how they interact with each other on Earth's surface.


What is a hypotheses scientists use to explain the movement of the tectonic plates?

Scientists primarily use the plate tectonics theory to explain the movement of tectonic plates. This theory posits that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large and rigid plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath. The movement of these plates is driven by convection currents in the mantle, which arise from heat generated by the Earth's core. Additionally, processes such as slab pull, ridge push, and mantle drag contribute to the dynamics of plate movement.


Explain how a fault-block mountain forms?

A fault-block mountain forms when tectonic forces cause blocks of the Earth's crust to be uplifted along faults. As the blocks are uplifted, erosion wears down the surrounding rock, leaving steep, rugged mountain peaks. Over time, these mountains can continue to rise as a result of ongoing tectonic activity.


Explain how folded mountain ranges form?

Folded mountain ranges form when tectonic plates collide, causing the crust to fold and buckle due to compressional forces. Over time, these folds are uplifted to create mountain ranges with ridges and valleys. Examples include the Himalayas and the Appalachians.


How does plate tectonics help explain the abundance and distribution of sedimentary rocks on Earth?

Plate tectonics plays a role in the formation, erosion, and distribution of sedimentary rocks by facilitating processes like subduction, mountain building, and the creation of sedimentary basins. Sedimentary rocks, which are formed by the accumulation of sediments over time, can be found in areas where these tectonic processes have occurred, such as along coastlines, in mountain ranges, and in sedimentary basins. The movement of tectonic plates helps recycle and redistribute sedimentary materials, influencing the abundance and distribution of sedimentary rocks on Earth.


Why is the movement of tectonic plates inferred by many scientists to be drive by convection currents in the asthenosphere?

Many scientists infer that tectonic plate movement is driven by convection currents in the asthenosphere because these currents create a dynamic flow of molten rock. As hot material rises from deeper within the Earth, it cools and eventually sinks, generating a cyclical motion that exerts force on the overlying tectonic plates. This process helps explain the gradual movement of plates, leading to geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges. The interaction between the convective currents and the rigid lithosphere illustrates the connection between mantle dynamics and plate tectonics.