This is not my area of expertise, but here is my layman's understanding. The lithosphere is essentially floating on molten rock. read more
The lithosphere is essentially floating on molten rock. The molten rock is in slow but unstoppable motion, driven by convection currents as the heat radiates from deeper in the earth towards the surface. These convection currents push the plates around and are the driving force of plate tectonics. read more
The lithosphere is, globally speaking, broken into several tectonic plates. Some of these are oceanic crust (more dense) and some are continental crust (less dense). If you're talking about an event in which a piece of lithosphere breaks apart, an earthquake is a likely answer. read more
Start studying Movement in the lithosphere (Plate Tectonics). Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. read more