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What layer of earth makes up the techtonic plates?
The lithosphere, which is the outermost layer of the Earth, is responsible for making up the tectonic plates. It includes the crust and upper part of the mantle and is broken up into various plates that are in constant motion due to the underlying mantle convection currents.
What does plate tectonics mean?
It's a theory explaining the structure of the earth's crust and many associated phenomena as resulting from the interaction of rigid lithospheric plates that move slowly over the underlying mantle.
What is a rock plate that sinks back into the mantle called?
A rock plate that sinks back into the mantle is called a subducting plate. This process occurs at convergent plate boundaries where denser oceanic plates sink beneath lighter continental plates.
Why do convergent oceanic plates subduct but continental plates do not usually respond in this way?
Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust, dense enough to sink into the mantle. Continental crust is not dense enough to do this.
How Can seismic be used to determine an earthquake epicenter?
Like a polyghraph squiggles show the techtonic plates moving.
What do techtonic plates move on?
the plates move on a mantle thats like tothpast the core is the only compleat liqwid
Why do plates sink to the mantle?
The Earth's plates sink into the mantle because of one plate pushing another down, causing a subduction zone.
What plates are in earths structure?
Techtonic plates
What happens as earths mantle drags on the bottom of techtonic plates?
As Earth's mantle drags on the bottom of tectonic plates, it creates stress and friction that can cause the plates to move. This movement can result in various tectonic activities such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain ranges as the plates interact with each other.
What layer of earth makes up the techtonic plates?
The lithosphere, which is the outermost layer of the Earth, is responsible for making up the tectonic plates. It includes the crust and upper part of the mantle and is broken up into various plates that are in constant motion due to the underlying mantle convection currents.
What causes some oceanic plates to sink and others to float?
Oceanic plates sink because they are denser than the underlying mantle, due to cooling and becoming more compact over time. In contrast, other plates float because they are less dense than the mantle material below, allowing them to remain buoyant on top.
When older sink below newer plates does it make it more dense?
Yes, when older, colder oceanic plates sink below younger, warmer plates in a process called subduction, the density of the older plate increases as it is subjected to higher pressures and temperatures in the Earth's mantle. This increase in density allows the plate to sink into the mantle.
Why does plates sometime sink into the mantle?
Plates can sink into the mantle at subduction zones because the descending plate is denser than the underlying mantle. This happens because the oceanic crust of the descending tectonic plate is denser than the underlying mantle rock.
When plates collide with continental plates does the denser ocean plate sink?
Yes, it "dives" under the continental crust and back into the mantle.
Why do some tectonic plates sink while others float?
They all float (on the mantle), some just float lower than others. The main reason is what they're made of; all plates have a high percentage of silica in them, but those with more aluminium than magnesium (continental plates) float higher than those with more magnesium (ocean floor plates) because they're less dense.
How does a earthquakes place affect tsunamis?
when the techtonic plates move, they can make an earthquake, that then may trigger techtonic plates to move and begin waves that become a tsunami
What are earths techtonic plates made of?
massive rocks
