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What causes the oceanic and continental plates to move is the mantle, which is the layer right beneath the crust. The mantle is not totally solid, so it moves, but very slowly that we can't even recognize the move.

FUN FACT: Each year North America and Europe are apart from each other for another 2 inches.

Hope I was helpful. :)

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Q: What causes oceanic and continental plates to move?
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Related questions

Why do oceanic plates move under continental plates when the two collide?

Oceanic plates move under continental plates when they converge together because the oceanic plate is more denser than the continental plate.


Do continental plates move faster than oceanic plates?

No, oceanic plates move faster than continental plates. This is due to the density of the oceanic plates (basalt is denser). For example, the fastest moving plates are the Pacific plate, Cocos plate, and Nazca plate. All oceanic.


What are tectonicsplates?

Tectonic plates.Tectonic plates are plates underneath Earth's surface that move very slowly. There are oceanic and continental plates. Of course, oceanic plates are plates under the ocean, and continental plates are plates underneath ground, or continents. Each of the plates carry the things above them, land or ocean. When two continental or oceanic plates collide, it causes a fold in Earth's surface, and an earthquake. Now, when a continental plate draws near and nearly collides with an oceanic plate, something called subduction occurs. Subduction is basically when the oceanic plate dips down below the continental plate, causing a trench.


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 are types of convergents boundaries?

Converging (destructive) plate boundary: where two plates collide. Diverging (constructive) plate boundary: where two plates move away from each other. Transform plate boundary: where two plates move, or grind, past each other. Like the boundary in California.


What are three types of convergent boundaries?

Converging (destructive) plate boundary: where two plates collide. Diverging (constructive) plate boundary: where two plates move away from each other. Transform plate boundary: where two plates move, or grind, past each other. Like the boundary in California.


What are the types of divergent boundaries?

The 3 general types are constructive, destructive, and conservative boundaries. Constructive (divergent) - plates move away from each other, typically creating a rift Destructive (convergent) - one plate will be subducted, or continental plates collide Conservative (transform) - plates grind past each other, stalling and slipping


What causes the Oceanic plates to move?

i dont know eathir so why is this thing asking me then?


What layer of Earth makes up the plates and what layer causes them to move?

The layer of the Earth which makes up the plates is called the lithosphere. The lithosphere is composed of the continental and oceanic crusts along with the hard upper mantle.


What happens when 2 oceanic plates and 2 continental plates move towards each other?

when 2 oceanic plates move toward(converge)each other they form a lain of VOLCANIC ISLAND ARC.when 2 continenatl plates move toward(converge)each other they form MOUNTAIN BUILDING.


What causes the continents and the earth's major plates to move?

continental drift


What two crusts do plate tectonics have?

Plate tectonics deals with the movements of earth's plates. The two types of plates are continental plates, which move at 2 cm a year, and ocean/oceanic plates which move at 10 cm a year.