answersLogoWhite

0

The Earth's crust is fragmented into large pieces called plates, some of which carry the continents. These plates overlie the mantle, which is solid, but under such tremendous pressure that in many ways it behaves like a liquid. Heat from the Earth's core causes convection currents in the mantle, and these cause the plates to move around over millions of years. This movement is often referred to as continental drift because the relative positions of the continents change because of it.

Earth is liquid inside. The liquid is a mixture of hot, melted metals and other elements and constantly moves because of temperature changes, just like air and water currents. The Earth's crust rests on the liquid interior and because the liquid moves, the crust moves as well. Since the crusts consists of individual plates, these plates move against each other and collide or subdue other plates. This is why continents change and move and how mountain ranges such as the Andes, Alps, Himalaya and Rocky Mountains came to be.

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

What else can I help you with?