Table of Contents
What layer do convection currents move?
The heat rising from the Earth’s core creates convection currents in the plastic layer of the mantle (asthenosphere). The convection currents slowly move the tectonic plates above them in different directions.
What do the convection currents slowly move?
Mantle convection is the slow, churning motion of Earth’s mantle. As tectonic plates slowly move away from each other, heat from the mantle’s convection currents makes the crust more plastic and less dense. The less-dense material rises, often forming a mountain or elevated area of the seafloor.
How do convection currents move the plates?
The crust moves because of movements deep inside the earth. Heat rising and falling inside the mantle creates convection currents generated by radioactive decay in the core. The convection currents move the plates. Where convection currents diverge near the Earth’s crust, plates move apart.
How are convection currents used to move fluid?
The convection currents tend to move a fluid or gas particles from one place to another. These are created as a result of the differences occurring within the densities and temperature of a specific gas or a fluid.
How do convection currents in the mantle cause plates to move?
Heat rising and falling inside the mantle creates convection currents generated by radioactive decay in the core. The convection currents move the plates. Where convection currents diverge near the Earth’s crust, plates move apart. Where convection currents converge, plates move towards each other.
How are currents related to the mass transfer process?
When currents are produced, matter is moved from one location to another. So, it’s also a mass transfer process. Convection that occurs naturally is called natural convection or free convection. If a fluid is circulated using a fan or a pump, it’s called forced convection.
When does the current in a convection cycle stop?
As it rises, it pulls cooler fluid down to replace it. This fluid in turn is heated, rises and pulls down more cool fluid. This cycle establishes a circular current that stops only when heat is evenly distributed throughout the fluid.