Which best describes the convection currents in earth’s mantle? they transfer potential energy away from earth’s core toward its crust. they transfer thermal energy away from earth’s core toward its crust. they transfer chemical and thermal energy in a circular pattern. they transfer chemical and potential energy in a circular pattern.

The correct answer is that they transfer thermal energy away from the core of the Earth towards its crust.  

The gradual creeping movement of the Earth's solid silicate mantle arising due to convection currents conducting heat from the interior to the surface of the Earth is known as mantle convection.

The surface of the Earth, that is, lithosphere present above the asthenosphere is differentiated into various plates, which are spontaneously being consumed and developed at their opposite plate boundaries. Accretion takes place as the mantle is supplemented to the developing boundaries of a plate, related to seafloor spreading. This added hot substance cools down by convection and conduction of heat.  

Convection currents in the magma drive plate tectonics. Heat generated from the radioactive decay of elements deep in the interior of the Earth creates magma (molten rock) in the aesthenosphere. The aesthenosphere (70 ~ 250 km) is part of the mantle, the middle sphere of the Earth that extends to 2900 km.