Seafloor Spreading

Front

What is Seafloor Spreading?

Back

Seafloor Spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges as magma rises to the surface and solidifies.

Front

What is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?

Back

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a continuous mountain range that runs down the center of the Atlantic Ocean, where seafloor spreading occurs.

Front

What evidence supports the theory of Seafloor Spreading?

Back

Evidence includes the age of rocks, magnetic patterns on the ocean floor, and the distribution of fossils.

Front

How does the age of oceanic rocks change with distance from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?

Back

The age of oceanic rocks increases as you move away from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

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What are Deep-Ocean Trenches?

Back

Deep-Ocean Trenches are long, steep valleys in the ocean floor, formed by the subduction of one tectonic plate beneath another.

Front

What is the significance of Pangea in the context of plate tectonics?

Back

Pangea was a supercontinent that existed millions of years ago, providing evidence for the theory of continental drift and plate tectonics.

Front

What role does magma play in Seafloor Spreading?

Back

Magma wells up through rifts at mid-ocean ridges, creating new oceanic crust as it cools and solidifies.

Front

What is the difference between Seafloor Spreading and Subduction?

Back

Seafloor Spreading is the process of new crust formation, while Subduction is the process where one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the mantle.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries, causing geological activity.

Front

What is the theory of Plate Tectonics?

Back

The theory of Plate Tectonics explains the movement of the Earth's plates and how they interact, leading to geological phenomena like earthquakes and volcanic activity.