Seafloor Spreading & Divergent

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.

Front

What type of boundary occurs when tectonic plates move away from each other?

Back

Divergent boundary.

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the upper mantle, which is broken into tectonic plates.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries.

Front

What happens at a convergent boundary?

Back

At a convergent boundary, tectonic plates move towards one another, often causing one plate to be forced beneath another.

Front

What is a transform boundary?

Back

A transform boundary is where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally.

Front

What geological features are commonly formed at divergent boundaries?

Back

Mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys are commonly formed at divergent boundaries.

Front

What is the asthenosphere?

Back

The asthenosphere is the semi-fluid layer of the upper mantle beneath the lithosphere that allows tectonic plates to move.

Front

How do tectonic plates interact at transform boundaries?

Back

At transform boundaries, tectonic plates move side by side, which can cause earthquakes.

Front

What is the significance of mid-ocean ridges?

Back

Mid-ocean ridges are significant because they are the sites of seafloor spreading and new oceanic crust formation.