Question

Compare and Contrast ridge push and slab pull. a) Ridge push involves the downward force of a ridge, while slab pull involves the sinking of a subducting slab. b) Ridge push and slab pull both involve the sinking of tectonic plates. c) Ridge push and slab pull are unrelated geological phenomena. d) Ridge push and slab pull both cause earthquakes.

Answer 1

Ridge push and slab pull are two processes that contribute to the movement of tectonic plates. Ridge push involves magma pushing the lithosphere at a mid-ocean ridge, while slab pull is the sinking of a subducting plate into the mantle. These forces play a role in the formation of geological features like mountains and earthquakes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ridge push and slab pull are two processes that contribute to the movement of tectonic plates. Ridge push occurs when magma pushes the lithosphere at a mid-ocean ridge, causing it to move away. Slab pull, on the other hand, is the sinking of a dense subducting plate into the mantle, which pulls the rest of the plate with it.

An example of ridge push is the movement of the Eurasian Plate away from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, while an example of slab pull is the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the North American Plate in the case of the Cascade Range in the United States. These two forces, along with others, contribute to the overall motion of tectonic plates and the formation of geological features such as mountains and earthquakes.

Learn more about Tectonic Plate Movement