Mantle Convection and Plate Movement
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Objective
I can describe how mantle convection drives the movement of tectonic plates.
Part 1 of 4
Warm-up video
Professor Dave Explains · 10:08Vetted channel
We don't generate video — this one is by Professor Dave Explains on YouTube. The practice questions and exit ticket below were drafted by AI for this objective, and every question is editable in the teacher guide.
Part 2 of 4
Key concepts
3 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.
Part 3 of 4
Practice
12 questions
What is the primary source of heat that drives mantle convection?
Describe the cycle of mantle convection. What happens to the mantle material as it heats up and cools down?
Part 4 of 4
Exit ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Describe the process of mantle convection and how it contributes to the movement of tectonic plates.”
Sample answer included in the free materials
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