1. Convection currents in the Earth's mantle drive the movements of tectonic plates. Hot material rises and spreads out laterally while cooler material sinks.
2. Ridge push and slab pull are two forces that influence plate tectonics. Ridge push results from the weight of new ocean crust pushing older, denser crust towards subduction zones. Slab pull occurs when the dense subducting plate pulls the trailing plate into the subduction zone.
3. Uneven heating of the mantle leads to differences in the density of rocks. Less dense, hot rocks rise while more dense, cooler rocks sink - similar to convection currents in boiling water. This cycling of hot and cold mantle material powers