Why does lithosphere move

In the middle of the liquid there is an up current as the heated liquid rises to the surface. On the edges there are down currents where the cooled liquid sinks back down to the bottom. It is theorized that something analogous happens in the semi molten mantle. There are hot spots where the mantle is heated by the liquid outer core. These hot spots cause the material in the mantel to come to the surface as magma creating new crust. New magma comes to the surface pushing the old magnetized crust away from the hot spot.

This pressure from the rising material from the hot spot causes the crust in the form of lithospheric plates to move. The deep ocean trenches found off the coast of South America and other places are thought to subduction zones where the cooled crust sinks and is forced back down into the mantle.

This actions idestroys the ocean crust and its fossilized sedimentary layers. The subsections destroy ocean plates allow the formation of new ocean crust at the mid ocean ridges. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.

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If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives. Weathering is the process of the weakening and breakdown of rocks, metals, and manmade objects.

There are two main types of weathering: chemical and physical. An example of chemical weathering is acid rain. Caused mostly by the burning of fossil fuels, acid rain is a form of precipitation with high levels of sulfuric acid, which can cause erosion in the materials in which it comes in contact. An example of physical weathering is wind blowing across the desert playas. This process causes rocks to form a specific pyramid-like shape and they are called ventifacts.

Select from these resources to teach about the process of weathering in your classroom. These tectonic plates rest upon the convecting mantle, which causes them to move. The movements of these plates can account for noticeable geologic events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and more subtle yet sublime events, like the building of mountains.

Teach your students about plate tectonics using these classroom resources. The structure of the earth is divided into four major components: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core. Each layer has a unique chemical composition, physical state, and can impact life on Earth's surface. Movement in the mantle caused by variations in heat from the core, cause the plates to shift, which can cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

These natural hazards then change our landscape, and in some cases, threaten lives and property. Learn more about how the earth is constructed with these classroom resources. The rock cycle is a web of processes that outlines how each of the three major rock types—igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary—form and break down based on the different applications of heat and pressure over time. For example, sedimentary rock shale becomes slate when heat and pressure are added.

The more heat and pressure you add, the further the rock metamorphoses until it becomes gneiss. If it is heated further, the rock will melt completely and reform as an igneous rock. Empower your students to learn about the rock cycle with this collection of resources. The surface of the Earth is made up of tectonic plates that lie beneath both the land and oceans of our planet.

The movements of these plates can build mountains or cause volcanoes to erupt. Earthquakes are more common in some parts of the world than others, because some places, like California, sit on top of the meeting point, or fault, of two plates.

When those plates scrape against each other and cause an earthquake, the results can be deadly and devastating. Learn more about earthquakes with this curated collection of classroom resources. At what speed does the earth travel on its orbit around the sun? What would happen if the earth's rotation was faster or slower? How fast does earth rotate near the equator? How fast does the earth rotate per second? How fast is the earth traveling along its orbit?

How fast does the earth rotate on its axis? How fast does the earth rotate in one minute?