Question

which statement accurately describes the movement of earth’s plates due to convection currents?
material near the core cools as heat is transferred toward the crust.
heated materials become denser, causing them to rise toward the surface.
as heated material gets closer to the surface, it begins to cool.
as materials cool, they become less dense and sink back toward the core.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option based on convection currents in Earth's mantle:

• Option 1: Material near the core is hot (not cooling as heat moves to crust), so incorrect.
• Option 2: Heated materials become less dense (not denser) and rise, so incorrect.
• Option 3: Heated material from the mantle rises; as it nears the surface (cooler), it cools. This matches convection.
• Option 4: Cooled materials become denser (not less dense) and sink, so incorrect.

Answer:

C. As heated material gets closer to the surface, it begins to cool.