hich best explains how heat plays a role in the movement of materials within Earth’s interior? Hot material near Earth’s surface is more dense and sinks, and when it cools, it becomes less dense and rises. Hot material near the core is more dense and rises, and when it cools, it becomes less dense and sinks. Hot material near Earth’s surface is less dense and sinks, and when it cools, it becomes more dense and rises. Hot material near the core is less dense and rises, and when it cools, it becomes more dense and sinks.