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Which of the following best describes why tectonic plates move?

OA. Earth's outer core is spinning between the mantle and the inner
core.
OB. Earth has a solid, rocky crust as its outermost layer.
C. Pieces of Earth's crust are bumping into each other.
D. Tectonic plates float on Earth's mantle of moving melted rock.
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Tectonic plates float on Earth's mantle of moving melted rock, causing them to move.


Step-by-step explanation:

Tectonic plates move because they float on Earth's mantle of moving melted rock, which is the answer option D. The Earth's mantle is a layer of semi-solid rock that is constantly moving due to convection currents. These currents are caused by the heat from the Earth's core, which heats up the mantle and creates movement. The movement of the mantle causes the tectonic plates to also move.


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