Why do the plates move

BibliographicEntry Result (w/surroundingtext) Standardized Result Read, H. H. & Janet Watson. Introduction to Geology. New York: Halsted, 1975: 13-15 "which the advancing plates move and have been calculated on this basis by Le Pichon at values of 5–10cm per year." 5–10cm/yr "Continental Drift." Encyclopedia Britannica. 15th ed. 1993. "subsequent plate movements averaging about 2cm (0.8inch) per year…." 2cm/yr "Plate Tectonics." Encarta. CD-ROM. Redmond, WA: Microsoft, 1995. "In the North Atlantic, the rate of movement is only about 1cm (about 0.4in) per year, while in the Pacific it amounts to more than 4cm (almost 2in) annually." 1–4cm/yr Hamilton, Rosanna L. "Earth's lithosphere is divided into eight large plates with about two dozen smaller ones that are drifting above the mantle at the rate of 5 to 10cm/yr." 5–10cm/yr Park, R. G. Geological Structures and Moving Plates. New York: Chapman & Hall, 1988: 70. [see below] 1–10cm/yr Sleep, Norman H. & Sean C. Solomon. "Some Simple Physical Models for Absolute Plate Motions." Journal of Geophysical Research. 1974: 2557-2567. [see below] [see below] Tamaki, Kensaku. [see below] [see below] Plate tectonics is a relatively new theory in the field of geology. It states that the lithosphere of the earth is divided into a small number of plates which float on and travel independently over the athenosphere, which lies over the mantle. Much of the earth's seismic activities occurs at the boundaries of these plates. It is a relativel...

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When water is boiled is starts to let off steam. The same could be said about the plates. The atoms are always moving, causing the plates to move. The plates change direction over time, jostling about like toys in a bathtub. The continents come together, move apart, and then together again someday. If you would like a picture it will be below. When water is heated it also forms convection currents. The hot water rises and then moves outward in both directions. The cold water then sinks at the edges of the pot. It is thought that the hot magma also creates convection currents. The mid ocean ridges are places when the hot magma comes up and then moves apart in a divergent boundary. The ocean trenches are places where the cooled magma sinks carrying the crust down in these convergent plate boundaries. SOURCES: Hopefully you found this helpful! I hope you have a wonderful, blessed day. I'll end it here with a nice little quote, "Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic." -Unknown Peace! -Ryan B.