Question

Do plates move about 2 to 5 centimeters per year?

Answer 1

Answer:

Yes. Due to the magma in the mantle, the tectonic plates in the upper crust of the earth move because of a process called *convection. The heat from the magma causes the tectonic plates to move at a very very slow rate

*An example of this is when you're cooking food in a pan. The food is getting hotter because the heat rising from the stove heats the pan.

In simpler terms: Stove ~~ Pan --> hot food

*There is no direct contact between the stove and the pan which is a defining feature of convection.