Forces responsible for the movement of plates
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Answer:
There are essentially two main types of forces that are thought to influence plate motion: friction and gravity. Basal drag (friction): Plate motion driven by friction between the convection currents in the asthenosphere and the more rigid overlying lithosphere.
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Friction and gravity is responsible for movement of plates.
Explanation:
Tectonic plates are large slabs or massive irregular shaped rock which consists of continental and oceanic lithosphere.
It's size ranges from few hundred kilometres to thousand kilometres.
Causes of movement:
- Plate movement happens due to mantle convection currents. These are warm currents and it can carry and drive the tectonic plates in a way that resembles conveyor belt.
- Second reason is the ridge push. New formed plates near the oceanic ridges are warm and so their elevation is higher than those colder and denser plates which are far from ridges. Gravity here causes these higher plates to push away lithosphere that is placed in farther away parts of ridge.
- Third reason is the slab pull. Old plates sink as it becomes cold and dense compared to the mantle beneath them. So, when they sink, warmer parts of plate is pulled which causes the movement.
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