Book 12, Question 62
Why Does Mantle Rock Move If It’s Solid?
Deep inside Earth, solid rock can flow! The mantle is so hot and under so much pressure that it moves very slowly. It is a bit like warm putty that you can stretch if you pull it slowly.
More fun facts
- Below the crust is the mantle, a hot, dense layer of semi solid rock.
- If you could grab a handful of mantle rock, it would feel like solid rock.
- Over very long times, softened mantle rock can flow very slowly, like Silly Putty.
- The layer beneath the plates is called the asthenosphere.
- Fluids from a sinking plate can melt bits of mantle into magma.
- Earth is about 12,750 kilometers across.
Sources: U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Geological Survey
Questions kids ask
Do plates float on lava?
No. The mantle under them is mostly solid rock that flows very slowly.