Convection Currents and Plate Tectonics

convection currents plate movement & newtons laws

We will explore how convection currents are the driving force behind the movement of Earth’s very big tectonic plates, and relate this movement to Newton’s laws of motion

I will draw a model to demonstrate where convection currents begin inside of the Earth and how these convection currents cause the lithospheric movement of our tectonic plates. 

Multiple Choice

Which of these combines with changes in fluid's density and the force of gravity to set convection currents in motion?

• freezing and melting of solid

• evaporation of fluid

• condensation of fluid

• heating and cooling of fluid

Multiple Choice

When molten material is cooled in the mantle it becomes more dense.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

When molten material is heated in the mantle it becomes ____?

• More dense

• Less dense

Multiple Choice

a current caused by the rising of heated fluid and sinking of cooled fluid

• Electric Current

• Convection Current

• Conduction Current

• Plate tectonic theory current

Multiple Choice

Most geologists think that the movement of Earth’s plates is caused by _______

• convection.

• continental drift.

• subduction.

• conduction.

Multiple Choice

The movement of the tectonic plates is caused by

• the rotation of the Earth.

• convection currents in the Asthenosphere

• the gravity of the iron-nickel core.

• the Moho discontinuity.

Multiple Choice

The movement of the tectonic plates is caused by

• the rotation of the Earth.

• convection currents in the Asthenosphere

• the gravity of the iron-nickel core.

• the Moho discontinuity.

Multiple Choice

What are the puzzle pieces of the Earth's surface called?

• Tectonic plates
• Puzzles
• Earthquakes

Multiple Choice

What does the theory of continental drift state?

• The continents were once joined in a super-continent and have moved over time
• Continents are stationary and do not move
• The Earth is broken into lithospheric plates that move due to convection currents
• none of the above

Multiple Choice

What is this a picture of?

• plate tectonics
• continental drift
• pangea
• glacier scaring

Multiple Choice

Wegener’s proposal of a supercontinent was supported by:

• earthquake data

• seafloor magnetism

• rock, fossil, and climate data.

• convection currents in the mantle.

Multiple Choice

The pacific plate is a convergent boundary that is fueled by the force of _________ deep in the asthenosphere (mantle).

• convection currents

• the sun

• gravity

• cheese crackers

Multiple Choice

Convection currents are the driving force of plate movement.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Objects in motion stay in motion at the same speed and in a straight line, and objects at rest will stay at rest unless an UNBALANCED force is applied.

• newtons 1st law

• newtons 2nd law

• newtons 3rd law

Multiple Choice

For every action force there is an equal but opposite reaction force

• newtons 1st law

• newtons 2nd law

• newtons 3rd law

Multiple Choice

The more mass an object has, the slower it will accelerate. The more force that is used, the faster the object will accelerate F= M x A

• newtons 1st law

• newtons 2nd law

• newtons 3rd law

Multiple Choice

The Juan De Fuca Plate will remain at rest until an __________ force acts on it.

• balanced

• unbalanced

• bobs burgers

Multiple Choice

What causes the force that makes the Juan de Fuca plate actually move? And where do we find it?

• convection currents in the lithosphere (crust)

• convection currents in the asthenosphere (mantle)

• convection currents in the ocean

Multiple Choice

According to Newton’s first law of motion (inertia), the Juan de Fuca plate will remain in motion until what kind of force occurs?

• balanced force

• a puppy force

• an unbalanced force

Multiple Choice

If the Juan de Fuca plate is already in motion, what is the force that causes it to change motion?

• a balanced force of colliding with another plate

• an unbalanced force of colliding with another plate

Multiple Choice

Major and Minor tectonic plates are categorized based on their size. Major tectonic plates are much larger than minor tectonic plates. With the same amount of force being used, this causes major tectonic plates to….

• accelerate more

• accelerate less

Multiple Choice

what would the force of the convection currents have to do in order to increase its speed?

• increase the force

• decrease the force