what is the driving force for the movement of the lithospheric plates?
a- heat from the sun
b- unequal distribution of heat within Earth
c- heat in the atmosphere
d- unequal distribution of heat from the oceans
My answer is B
Although this is not my main area of expertise, I would agree.
You are correct! The driving force for the movement of the lithospheric plates is the unequal distribution of heat within Earth, so option B is the correct answer.
To explain further, the lithospheric plates are located on the Earth's surface and form the outermost rigid layer of the Earth. These plates are constantly moving, albeit very slowly. This movement is a result of the convection currents that occur in the Earth's mantle, which is the layer beneath the lithosphere.
The primary source of heat for these convection currents is the core of the Earth, which is made up of extremely hot molten rock called magma. This heat is generated by the radioactive decay of elements in the core.
As this hot magma rises towards the surface, it heats up the surrounding rock in the mantle. The heated rock becomes less dense and starts to rise, creating a convection current. This upward movement of hot material causes the lithospheric plates to move apart at the mid-oceanic ridges.
On the other hand, as the hot material cools down and becomes denser, it starts to sink back into the mantle in a process known as subduction. This downward movement of colder material causes the lithospheric plates to interact and often collide at convergent plate boundaries.
In summary, the uneven distribution of heat within the Earth's interior sets in motion convection currents in the mantle, which in turn drives the movement of the lithospheric plates.