Which statement is correct about the movement of plates that sit on top of the mantle? (1 point) Responses They never move because they are connected to mountains. They never move because they are connected to mountains. They regularly move because of the convection currents of oceans. They regularly move because of the convection currents of oceans. They never move because they are connected to Earth’s crust. They never move because they are connected to Earth’s crust. They regularly move because of the convection currents of magma.
They regularly move because of the convection currents of magma.
The correct statement is: They regularly move because of the convection currents of magma.
The correct statement about the movement of plates that sit on top of the mantle is: "They regularly move because of the convection currents of magma."
To understand why this statement is correct, we need to understand a few key concepts.
First, let's talk about plate tectonics. The Earth's outermost layer, called the lithosphere, is broken into several large and small pieces called tectonic plates. These plates are constantly moving, albeit very slowly, and they interact with each other at their boundaries.
The movement of tectonic plates is driven by convection currents in the Earth's mantle. The mantle is a layer of hot, semi-solid rock beneath the Earth's crust. Heat from the Earth's core causes the mantle to circulate in a process known as mantle convection. This convection drives the movement of the tectonic plates sitting on top of the mantle.
As the mantle heats up, it becomes less dense and rises towards the surface. At the surface, the mantle material cools down and becomes denser, causing it to sink back into the mantle. This process sets up a continuous cycle of rising and sinking, known as convection currents.
These convection currents push and drag the tectonic plates above them, causing them to move slowly over time. The movement of the plates can result in various geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountains.
It's important to note that the statement "They never move because they are connected to mountains" and the statement "They never move because they are connected to Earth's crust" are incorrect. The plates do move, regardless of their connection to mountains or Earth's crust, and their movement is primarily driven by convection currents in the mantle.
Therefore, the correct statement is "They regularly move because of the convection currents of magma."