Hot Rock Moves Earth’s Plates

In the picture

1. 1A glowing column of hot mantle rock moving upward
2. 2A sideways sweep of mantle rock near the outer shell
3. 3A darker stream of cooler mantle rock sinking downward
4. 4A cracked outer shell segment sliding sideways above the mantle

Examples

• Soup simmering in a pot: warm soup rises, cooler soup sinks, and the surface drifts.
• A lava lamp: warm blobs rise and cooler blobs sink.

Quiz: Hot Rock Moves Earth’s Plates (Age 13)

1. 1

   Why does hot mantle rock rise?

   • It is pulled upward by the outer shell.
   • It is less dense than the surrounding rock.
   • It is pushed upward by sinking rock.
2. 2

   What happens to cooler mantle rock?

   • It turns into a plate.
   • It becomes denser and sinks.
   • It becomes less dense and rises.
3. 3

   How does the moving mantle affect the cracked outer shell?

   • It pulls the shell downward into the mantle.
   • It drags the shell sideways.
   • It holds the shell in one fixed place.

The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.