Pieces of the Earth's crust

The crust of the Earth

A plate of tectonics

The plates move with the magma as it rises out of volcanoes

Earthquakes shuffle the plates around

Convection currents that occur in the semi molten mantle

Plates are made of tectonics

The continents were moved around on plates driven by convection currents in the hot mantle of the earth

The continental plates start convection currents

As semi-molten rock in the mantle is heated it becomes less dense than its surroundings and rises. As it reaches the crust above, it spreads out carrying the plates above with it. As the semi-molten rock then cools, it gradually sinks back down to be re-heated

As semi-molten rock in the mantle is heated it becomes more dense than its surroundings and rises. As it reaches the crust above, it spreads out carrying the plates above with it. As the semi-molten rock then cools, it gradually sinks back down to be re-heated

As semi-molten rock in the mantle is heated it becomes less dense than its surroundings and falls. As it reaches the crust above, it spreads out carrying the plates above with it. As the semi-molten rock then cools, it gradually rises back up to be re-heated

it is more dense

it is less dense

it is lighter