JY CHEN - Ask Anything, Learn Everything. Logo

In Physics / Middle School | 2014-05-07

Explain why cool rock material sinks when convection takes place in the mantle.

Asked by naenaeup

Answer (2)

This is because its density increases. In a liquid, the density decreases, allowing it to stay on top of another substance. The liquid cools as it rises away from the core, and gets closer to the crust. The loss of temperature makes it more dense than the liquid.

Answered by Boeing7478i | 2024-06-24

Cool rock material sinks in the mantle during convection because it becomes denser as it cools after rising from the lower mantle. This process creates a continuous cycle of rising hot material and sinking cooler material, driving the movement of tectonic plates. Convection in the mantle is essential for geological processes on Earth.
;

Answered by Boeing7478i | 2024-10-30