Final answer:
The geological process of mantle convection, where radiogenic heat causes magma to rise, forms convection currents, while tectonic plates sliding alongside each other at transform boundaries can lead to earthquakes. The characteristics of Earth's crust are influenced by the movement and interaction of tectonic plates, and the depth of the crust affects how heat from the mantle is transferred.
Step-by-step explanation:
When matching the causes with their effects regarding geological processes and tectonic plates, we consider the following:
- Cause: What geological process results in radiogenic heat rising to heat molten magma?
Effect: Magma at the core-mantle boundary rises, forming convection currents. This is a process known as mantle convection, where the heat transfer mechanism allows the Earth to cool efficiently. - Cause: What happens at transform boundaries of tectonic plates?
Effect: Pressure builds up, eventually leading to an earthquake. At these boundaries, the plates slide alongside each other, causing friction and stress accumulation. - Cause: What feature characterizes the Earth's crust? Effect: The combination of tectonic plates moving and interacting at different boundaries such as divergent, convergent, and transform, leading to phenomena like earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain formation.
- Cause: What factor contributes to the depth of the Earth's crust?
Effect: The mantle is insulated from the atmosphere and retains tremendous heat. The thickness of the crust can affect how heat is conducted from the mantle to the surface.
These effects elucidate the dynamic nature of Earth's plate tectonics and the associated geological processes that shape our planet.