Name _________________________ Date __________________ Class __________

Plate Tectonics ■ Review and Reinforce

Convection and the Mantle

Understanding Main Ideas
Label each figure by writing the type of heat transfer it shows.

1. 2. 3.
Answer the following questions in the spaces provided.
4. What are convection currents and what causes them?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. What causes convection currents in Earth’s mantle?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Building Vocabulary
If the statement is true, write true. If it is false, change the underlined word or
words to make the statement true.
____ 6. The transfer of energy through empty space is called convection.
____ 7. The movement of energy from a warmer object to a cooler object is
called heat transfer.
____ 8. Conduction is heat transfer by direct contact of particles of
matter.
____ 9. Radiation is the transfer of heat by the movement of a heated fluid.
____ 10. Density is a measure of how much heat there is in a volume of a
substance.

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Name _________________________ Date __________________ Class __________
Answer Key

Convection and the Mantle

Understanding Main Ideas
Label each figure by writing the type of heat transfer it shows.

1. 2. 3.
Convection radiation conduction

Answer the following questions in the spaces provided.

4. What are convection currents and what causes them?
The flow that transfers heat within a fluid caused by changes in temperature and density,
along with the force of gravity.
5. What causes convection currents in Earth’s mantle?
Convection currents in the mantle are caused by heat from the Earth’s core.

Building Vocabulary
If the statement is true, write true. If it is false, change the underlined word or
words to make the statement true.
False - radiation 6. The transfer of energy through empty space is called convection.
true 7. The movement of energy from a warmer object to a cooler object is
called heat transfer.
true 8. Conduction is heat transfer by direct contact of particles of
matter.
False - convection 9. Radiation is the transfer of heat by the movement of a
heated fluid.
False - mass 10. Density is a measure of how much heat there is in a volume
of a substance.
What’s Happening During Convection?
The figure below shows a convection cell in Earth’s mantle. A convection cell is one complete
loop of a convection current. Use the figure to answer the questions that follow.
Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

Lithosphere

1. Where does the heat come from that drives this convection current in the mantle?
2. Where is the temperature of the mantle material greater, at point A or point B? Explain why.
3. Where is the density of the material greater, at point B or point C? Explain why.
4. What causes the convection cell to turn to the left at point B?
5. What happens to the temperature and density of the material between points B and C?
6. What force causes the convection cell to turn down at point C?
7. What happens to the temperature and density of the material between points D and A?
8. What causes the convection cell to turn up at point A?
9. How do you think this convection cell might affect the crust material above it?
Answer key
What’s Happening During Convection?
The figure below shows a convection cell in Earth’s mantle. A convection cell is one complete
loop of a convection current. Use the figure to answer the questions that follow.
Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

Lithosphere

1. Where does the heat come from that drives this convection current in the mantle?
core
2. Where is the temperature of the mantle material greater, at point A or point B? Explain why.
A because it is closer to the heat source or the core
3. Where is the density of the material greater, at point B or point C? Explain why.
C because it is colder
4. What causes the convection cell to turn to the left at point B?
It hits the solid crust
5. What happens to the temperature and density of the material between points B and C?
Temperature decreases, density increases
6. What force causes the convection cell to turn down at point C?
gravity
7. What happens to the temperature and density of the material between points D and A?
Temperature increases, density decreases
8. What causes the convection cell to turn up at point A?
Less dense rock rises
9. How do you think this convection cell might affect the crust material above it?
Moves crust, causes earthquakes, volcanoes, and forms mountains
 Mantle rock a.
Particles move b.

Particles occupy c. space.

Density increases.

Mantle
rock rises

Mantle rock d. Particles move faster.

Particles occupy more space.

Mantle rock Density e.

is heated
 Answer key

Mantle rock a.
Particles move b.

Particles occupy c. space.

Density increases.

Mantle
rock rises

Mantle rock d. Particles move faster.

Particles occupy more space.

Mantle rock Density e.

is heated

a. cools

b.slower

c.less

d.sinks

e.decreases