Seafloor Spreading

Front

What is seafloor spreading?

Back

Seafloor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and gradually moves away from the ridge, adding new material to the ocean floor.

Front

True or False: Seafloor spreading adds new material to the ocean floor?

Back

True

Front

Where is new crust always formed?

Back

At the mid-ocean ridge.

Front

Where are the oldest rocks found in relation to mid-ocean ridges?

Back

The oldest rocks are found far from the mid-ocean ridges.

Front

What is a mid-ocean ridge?

Back

A mid-ocean ridge is an underwater mountain range formed by plate tectonics, where new oceanic crust is created.

Front

What happens at a deep-ocean trench?

Back

At a deep-ocean trench, one tectonic plate is being subducted under another, leading to the recycling of oceanic crust.

Front

What is the asthenosphere?

Back

The asthenosphere is a semi-fluid layer of the Earth's mantle that lies beneath the lithosphere and allows tectonic plates to move.

Front

What is the relationship between mid-ocean ridges and earthquakes?

Back

Mid-ocean ridges are often sites of earthquakes due to the movement of tectonic plates.

Front

How does seafloor spreading support the theory of plate tectonics?

Back

Seafloor spreading provides evidence that tectonic plates are moving apart, which is a key principle of the theory of plate tectonics.

Front

What is the significance of the age of seafloor rocks?

Back

The age of seafloor rocks helps scientists understand the history of Earth's geological activity and the rate of seafloor spreading.