Tectonic plate motion is driven by a combination of gravitational forces and heat transfer within Earth's mantle. Match each plate-driving mechanism on the left with its correct physical description on the right.
- Slab pullGravitational sinking of cold, dense subducting oceanic lithosphere downward into the asthenosphere at trenches
- Ridge pushGravitational sliding of elevated, buoyant lithosphere downward and away from mid-ocean spreading centers
- Basal dragFrictional traction transferred to the underside of tectonic plates by circulating mantle convection currents
Answer
Slab pull pairs with the gravitational sinking of cold, dense subducting lithosphere into the asthenosphere; Ridge push pairs with the gravitational sliding of elevated, buoyant lithosphere away from mid-ocean spreading centers; Basal drag pairs with the frictional traction transferred to the underside of tectonic plates by circulating mantle convection currents.
The correct matches accurately align the physical mechanisms driving plate tectonics with their proper definitions: slab pull is the gravitational descent of dense oceanic slabs at subduction zones, ridge push is the gravitational sliding away from elevated mid-ocean ridges, and basal drag is the frictional traction applied to the base of plates by asthenospheric convection.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Mechanisms of Plate Tectonic Motion (Slab Pull, Ridge Push, and Basal Drag)
Estimated Time:1m 0s