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The asthenosphere is primarily characterized as plastic rather than brittle. It is a semi-fluid layer of the Earth's mantle located beneath the lithosphere, allowing it to flow slowly over geological timescales. This plasticity enables tectonic plates to move on its surface, contributing to geological processes such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.

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1w ago

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What best describes the physical nature of the earth's lithosphere and the asthenosphere?

The lithosphere is rigid and commonly deforms in a brittle manner; the asthenosphere tends to flow slowly and deform in a plastic manner.


Which layer of earth contains asthenosphere?

The asthenosphere is located in the upper mantle. The asthenosphere is below the lithosphere, the brittle outer shell of the Earth.


Is the Earth's asthenosphere rigid?

No. The asthenosphere is plastic in texture.


What is the difference between lithosphere and asthenosphere?

The difference between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere is that the asthenosphere is the lower part of the upper mantle it behaves like a plastic but flows much more easily than the rest of the mantle. The lithosphere however, includes the entire crust and the uppermost part of the mantle, it is more rigid and brittle and doesn't flow.


Is the asthenosphere brittle rock?

No, the asthenosphere is not brittle rock. It is a semi-fluid layer of the Earth's mantle beneath the lithosphere where rocks can flow slowly under high temperatures and pressure. This flow allows tectonic plates to move and interact.


Which layer of the earth contains the asthenosphere?

The asthenosphere is located in the upper mantle. The asthenosphere is below the lithosphere, the brittle outer shell of the Earth.


The layer of plastic rock that underlies the tectonic plates is the?

This is known as the asthenosphere.


What deforms by plastic flow?

asthenosphere


Are the crust and the lithosphere brittle?

The lithosphere, which consists of the crust and uppermost mantle, is considered hard and brittle, unlike the asthenosphere, where rock is considered ductile.


What are the differences between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere?

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth that includes the crust and the upper part of the mantle. The asthenosphere is a partially molten, ductile layer below the lithosphere that allows the lithospheric plates to move. The main difference is in their physical properties, with the lithosphere being solid and rigid, while the asthenosphere is more plastic and able to flow.


What is the solid plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere?

The solid plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere is called the asthenosphere. It is characterized by its semi-fluid nature, allowing for the movement of tectonic plates over time. The asthenosphere plays a crucial role in the process of plate tectonics.


How do brittle objects undergo plastic deformation?

Brittle objects typically do not undergo plastic deformation due to their inability to sustain significant deformation before fracturing. Instead, brittle materials tend to fracture with minimal or no plastic deformation.