Mantle Convection and Plate Movement
Grade 11th Grade · Science · 75 min
What's Included
Learning Objective
I can describe how mantle convection drives the movement of tectonic plates.
Warm-Up Video
Professor Dave Explains · 10:08
An Overview of Earth’s Layers
Guided Notes
3 key concepts
- 1
Continental crust is felsic, while oceanic crust is mafic, and oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust.
- 2
The mantle is a solid, but malleable layer that convects like a lava lamp, transferring primordial and radiogenic heat to the surface, and is mainly composed of peridotite.
- 3
The liquid outer core, composed of iron and nickel, convects and creates a geodynamo that maintains Earth's magnetic field, while the solid inner core helps stabilize the magnetic field and exhibits super-rotation.
Practice Questions
12 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer
Exit Ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Describe the process of mantle convection and how it contributes to the movement of tectonic plates.”
Complete Lesson Package
Get all 3 ready-to-use resources:
