What geologic forces drive tectonic movements? Group of answer choices

seismic movement, volcanic activity, plate tension

Earth's rotation, geothermal activity, gravitational forces

plate subduction, convergence and divergence

Earth's orbit, solar winds, electromagnetic waves

Earth's rotation, geothermal activity, gravitational forces

Explanation:

Tectonic movements refers to movement occurring within the earth's crust.

The rotation of the earth on it's axis releases significant amounts of gravitational energy that results in deformation and movement of the earth's crust and mass redistribution of the tectonic plates.

Some of the main forces by which earth's rotation affects tectonic movements are:

Tidal friction due to the gravitational force of the Moon as well the Sun on the earth's crust; and change of the shape of the earth due to small displacements of the rotational pole with respect to the earth's crust.

Geothermal activity is caused by the transfer of heat from depth to the earth's surface. Convection currents in the mantle drive tectonic movements. Within the mantle of the earth, molten magma rises to the top while hot cold solid rock sinks to the bottom setting up a flow known as mantle convection. The rising and sinking motions of materials deform the outer surface of the earth producing earthquakes, mountain ranges, and volcanos on earth.

Two gravitational forces- slab pull and ridge push- cause tectonic movements. Slab pull occurs where gravity pulls

the edge of a cold, dense plate into the asthenosphere due to its weight dragging the entire rigid plate along.

Ridge push occurs when material from a mid-ocean ridge when cooled and thus becoming denser, slides down a raised but weaker asthenosphere due to gravity and push outwards on the lithosphere farther away from the ridges, allowing hot magma from the mantle to flow upwards again.