Mantle Convection

NameInstructor
Course
Date
Mantle Convection
Mantle Convection is responsible for tectonic plate movements in the earth’s interior CITATION DrR18 l 1033 (Kinzler). According to the tectonic plate theory, the earth’s crust has other crust sub-divisions that float on the surface of the partially molten mantle CITATION DrR18 l 1033 (Kinzler). The eating from the earth’s crust initiates a circular flow where hot magma rises while cooler one falls initiating the convection. The circular movement pulls the plates initiating movement CITATION DrR18 l 1033 (Kinzler). This can best be demonstrated using the lava lamps A and B. Lava lamp B is connected to a heat source while A is not. From the experiment, Lamp A is off while B is on. The following enumerations were accorded to the observations;
Lamp A
Lava in the lamp is cool. Due to low temperature, it does not require convent thus no glow is observed.
Lamp B
The lamp lights as a result of conventional flow. Heating at the bottom of the lamp makes the lava less dense which causes it to rise to the top. The cooler dense lava at the top flows downwards. Continuous heating causes the dense lava to become less dense flowing to the top while the cooling lava flows downward. This process results in a continuous convectional flow causing the glow.
Relating Lamp B observations to Earth’s Mantle
The source of heat for the lamp comes from light resulting in heat energy. For the earth, the core is the source of the heat. It’s also responsible for radioactivity within the earth.

The lamps lava symbolizes the earth’s mantle (molten magma) which is below the earth’s surface. If floating pieces were present in the lava, they would symbolize the planets tectonic plates. As a result of the conventional flows initiated by the heat source, the foam pieces in the lamp would move. The pieces would demonstrate how interior earth movements impact tectonic plate movements. The study illustrates convection where hot air or materials rise, and cold ones sink initiating crustal movements and lava lamp flows.
Work Cited
Kinzler, Dr. Ro. Mantle Convection and Plate Tectonics. 2018. <https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/amnh/earthquakes-and-volcanoes/plate-tectonics/a/mantle-convection-and-plate-tectonics>.