The Mechanics Of Plate Movement

Question 1

In which direction do converging/destructive plate boundaries move

Answer 1

Towards each other

Example west coast of South America

Question 2

In which direction do diverging/constructive plate boundaries move

Answer 2

Apart from each other

Example mid-Atlantic ridge in Iceland

Question 3

In what direction do you conservative plate margins move

Answer 3

Alongside each other in opposite directions or in the same direction at different speeds

Question 4

How is heat from the core of the Earth move towards the surface

And how does this cause plate movement

Answer 4

Through convection currents in the mantle

They then spread out carrying plates with them like a conveyor belt

Plate moves on the asthenosphere

Modern scientific techniques have been unable to identify convection cells in the mantle that would be powerful enough to move plates

Question 5

What is ridge push

Answer 5

Ridge Push is where molten magma rises at the mid ocean ridge divergent boundary

Rocks in the lithosphere are heated expanded and rise above the surrounding sea floor forming a slope away from the ridge

As the rock cools it becomes denser and gravity causes it to slide down the ridge exerting a force on the plate

This gravitational sliding is the active driving force

Question 6

What is slab pull

Answer 6

Many convergent plate boundaries one place is denser and heavier than the other.

the denser plate subducts beneath the less dense plate

The subducting plate is colder and heavier than the mantle so it continues to sink pulling the rest of the plate with it