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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. It moves in a pattern called a convection cell that forms when warm material rises, cools, and eventually sink down.

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What layer moves at tectonic plates?

The lithosphere is the layer that moves with the tectonic plates. The lithosphere is made up of the crust and the upper part of the mantle, and it is broken into tectonic plates that move and interact with each other.


What mechanism moves lithospheric plates?

The movement of lithospheric plates is primarily driven by the process of plate tectonics. This movement is caused by the heat-driven convection currents in the Earth's mantle. As these currents circulate, they drag the overlying lithospheric plates along with them, causing the plates to move over time.


What layer moves underneath the techtonic plates?

The aesthenosphere, which is located in the top part of the Earth's mantle is the layer lying underneath the tectonic plates. Collective movement in these plates cause a gradual rise in the aesthenosphere, thereby resulting to land elevation.


What forms when the lithospheric plates rub against each other?

well in a volcano the lithospheric plates meet when magma moves and moves at the bottom and in the magma chamber the lava[magma] is moving around the lithospheric plates thats what forms them but what forms when they rub against each other is a volcanic eruption


What happens when the earth's plates stick and build up pressure?

Eventually the plates begin to move again, typically with an earthquake. The movement can be of several types (both plates bend up; one plate slides up over the other; one plate edge moves one direction while the other moves the opposite way; etc.) The alternative to an earthquake is a period of gradual slippage.