Question

Explain the forces which cause movements of the lithospheric plates.

Answer 1

Answer:

The heat from radioactive processes within the planet's interior causes the plates to move, sometimes toward and sometimes away from each other. This movement is called plate motion, or tectonic shift.

Answer 2

Answer:

Lithospheric plates are part of a planetary scale thermal convection system. The energy source for plate tectonics is Earth's internal heat while the forces moving the plates are the “ridge push” and “slab pull” gravity forces. It was once thought that mantle convection could drive plate motions.