Question

What processes drive motion of the plates​

Answer 1

Answer:

Convection currents, slab pulls and ridge pushes

Explanation:

Tectonic plates are driven by the heat coming from the Earth’s core. In the mantle, under the Earth’s crust, hot magma rises. As it reaches the bottom of the Earth’s crust, in the region know as the asthenosphere, the magma drags along the bottom of the tectonic plate. The friction causes the plate to move in the same direction. The magma cools and falls back into the mantle to be heated again and continue the process.

Ridge push occurs on constructive (divergent) plate boundaries. As the plates move apart magma rises to the surface and cools to form new rock. The weight and pressure of the new rock help to push the tectonic plate away from each other.

Slab pull occurs on destructive plate boundaries. On the plate is subducted under the other. As it does so the subducted plate dives into the mantle. The weight of the subducted section pulls the rest of the plate towards it.