What is the driving force behind the movement of tektonic plates
Answer (1)
The main driving force is convection currents in the mantle. Heat from Earth’s core warms the mantle’s lower parts.Hot mantle material rises because it is less dense.As it moves upward and cools, it becomes denser and sinks back down.This circular motion (convection current) pushes and pulls the plates above.Other contributing forces:Ridge push – gravity pushes plates away from mid-ocean ridges.Slab pull – sinking of colder, denser oceanic plates pulls the rest of the plate.These forces together cause earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the shifting of continents.
