Asthenosphere

Real World Example

Imagine trying to balance a tray full of dishes on a thick, soft mattress. Just as the tray rests on the mattress, adjusting and sinking slightly based on the weight and balance of the dishes, the lithospheric plates sit atop the asthenosphere, which is a softer, more pliable layer. The connection lies in how both the mattress and the asthenosphere provide a supportive yet flexible foundation that allows for movement and adjustment, with the lithospheric plates moving similarly to how the tray might shift on the mattress.