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A continent is what floats on top of the plate. There are continental and oceanic plates. The continents float on the continental plate and the ocean sits on the oceanic plate. But there are also plates that carry both continents and oceans. The plates are what causes continental drift. So basically plates are what carry the continents and oceans.

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14y ago

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Why are continents not fixed permanently in location on the earths crust?

The continents are embedded in the top side of crustal plates which float on the surface of the mantle. Convection currents in the mantle carry the plates around and the embedded continents travel along.


How can the presence of the seven continents on the earths surface be explained?

the earths plates shifted....


What layer of the earths make up these plates and what layer are are the continents sliding on?

The plates on the top of the upper mantle are referred to as the lithosphere, which slides on the asthenosphere.well the mantle causes the continents to move on the ocean floor and sand it makes it slideyea know the crustti is i dont ge ehttt


Are the tectonic plates in the earths inner core?

No the tectonic plates are on top of the crust.


What is the theory of formation and movement of the plates that cover the earths surface?

the movement and formation of the plates or continents is caused by conduction under the crust.


What theory of the formation and movement of the plates that cover the earths surface?

the movement and formation of the plates or continents is caused by conduction under the crust.


Do continents drift slowly on earths upper mantle or earths core?

Continents drift on top of the upper mantle. The core is much further down.


If Earths plates and continents are constantly moving what effect does this have on Earths oceans?

The movement of Earth's plates and continents can cause changes in sea level, ocean currents, and the distribution of marine life. It can also affect the shape of ocean basins and the location of coastlines.


Are continents and plates not the same?

No, continents and plates are not the same. Continents are large land masses that form the Earth's surface, while tectonic plates are pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other, causing geological phenomena like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Continents are located on top of tectonic plates and can be made up of one or more plates.


What is Movement of earths continents?

The movement of Earth's continents is known as plate tectonics. It describes how Earth's lithosphere is divided into large plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. These plates move over time, leading to the formation of mountains, earthquakes, and the shifting of continents.


Which process is currently accepted explanation of the movement of drifting continents?

the convection currents in the mantle under the earths curst is moving the broken plates in earths lithosphere causing the plates slide across the lithosphere. this process is called tectonics. (jon lay wrote this,)


How did continental drift happen?

Continental Drift happened, when the tectonic plates in the earth shifted, and pushed the lithosphere up, causing our continents to split.