Convection currents, which move the tectonic plates, are found in which layer of the earth?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF Paper - I: Official Paper (Held on: 8 Aug 2021)

Answer 1

The correct answer is Mantle.

Key Points

A convection current is a process that involves the movement of energy from one place to another.
It is also called convection heat transfer.
Convection Current is defined as “a process of continuous heating up of liquids or gases by the process called convection.
The Earth's crust is broken up into pieces called plates.
The crust moves because of movements deep inside the earth.
Heat rising and falling inside the mantle creates convection currents generated by radioactive decay in the core. Hence Option 2 is correct.
The convection currents move the plates.
Where convection currents diverge near the Earth's crust, plates move apart.
Where convection currents converge, plates move towards each other.
The movement of the plates, and the activity inside the Earth, is called plate tectonics.
Plate tectonics causes earthquakes and volcanoes.
The point where two plates meet is called a plate boundary.
Earthquakes and volcanoes are most likely to occur either on or near plate boundaries.