What is the best explanation for why Earth's lithospheric plates move? Is it the convection currents within the atmosphere? The solid iron core atmosphere the convection currents within the lithosphere or the solid iron lithosphere
The best explanation for why Earth's lithospheric plates move is due to the convection currents within the underlying asthenosphere. The lithosphere, consisting of the crust and a portion of the upper mantle, is broken into several large plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere. Convection currents are generated in the asthenosphere due to the intense heat from Earth's core.
The process starts with the heat generated from the solid iron core, which causes the asthenosphere to become partially molten. This molten rock is less dense than the overlying lithosphere, causing it to rise towards the surface. As it moves upwards, it cools and solidifies, becoming denser and sinking back down.
This circulation of molten rock creates convection currents within the asthenosphere. These currents exert a drag force on the overlying lithospheric plates, causing them to move. The motion of the plates can be compared to the movement of a conveyor belt, driven by the convection currents below.
Therefore, the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates is primarily driven by the convection currents within the asthenosphere, which are in turn caused by the heat generated from the solid iron core.