Plate movement

Question 1

The two processes that cause plate movement are …

Answer 1

1. Convection currents

2. Slab-pull force

Question 2

Describe how convection current results in plate movements.

[4 steps]

Answer 2

1. Heat of core causes the rocks in mantle to melt.
2. Hot magma rises, spreads underneath plates, plates get dragged along, moving away from each other.
3. Magma then cools and sinks, plates are being pulled along and towards each other.
4. Constant rising and sinking of magma gives rise to convection currents.

Question 3

Describe how slab-pull force results in plate movements.

[2 steps]

Answer 3

1. The downward part of convection current causes a sinking force that pulls the tectonic plates together.
2. The weight of the sinking / subducting plate pulls the tectonic plates further downwards.