Seafloor Spreading & Continental Drift

Front

What is seafloor spreading?

Back

Seafloor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges as tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma from the mantle to rise and solidify.

Front

Where is the youngest seafloor located in the Atlantic Ocean?

Back

Towards the middle of the ocean.

Front

What are mid-ocean ridges?

Back

Mid-ocean ridges are vast, underwater mountain chains that are the largest geologic feature on Earth, formed by tectonic activity.

Front

Where can the youngest oceanic crust be found?

Back

Along the center of the mid-ocean ridges where sea-floor spreading occurs.

Front

What typically occurs along plate boundaries?

Back

Volcanoes and earthquakes typically occur along plate boundaries.

Front

What is the role of molten material from the mantle in seafloor spreading?

Back

Molten material from the mantle rises up along the mid-ocean ridge during the process of sea-floor spreading.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with one another, causing geological activity.

Front

What is continental drift?

Back

Continental drift is the theory that continents have moved over geological time and were once part of a single landmass called Pangaea.

Front

What evidence supports the theory of continental drift?

Back

Evidence includes the fit of continental coastlines, fossil similarities across continents, and geological formations that match on different continents.

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

A transform boundary is a type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally, often causing earthquakes.