Seafloor Spreading

Front

What is a mid-ocean ridge?

Back

A mid-ocean ridge is an undersea mountain range formed by plate tectonics, where new oceanic crust is created as magma rises from the mantle.

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, causing the ocean floor to expand.

Front

What is the significance of magnetic stripes on the ocean floor?

Back

Magnetic stripes are patterns of magnetic orientation in rocks on the ocean floor that provide evidence for seafloor spreading and plate tectonics.

Front

What technology was used to map the seafloor during WWII?

Back

Echo Location was used to detect submarines and create the first maps of the seafloor.

Front

Where is new crust formed in the ocean?

Back

New crust is always formed at the mid-ocean ridge.

Front

What evidence is NOT associated with seafloor spreading?

Back

Fossil evidence is NOT considered evidence of seafloor spreading.

Front

What happens to the age of rocks as you move away from a mid-ocean ridge?

Back

The rocks become older as you move away from the mid-ocean ridge.

Front

What is the role of the asthenosphere in plate tectonics?

Back

The asthenosphere is a semi-fluid layer of the mantle that allows tectonic plates to move over it.

Front

What is a rift zone?

Back

A rift zone is a region where the Earth's crust is being pulled apart, often associated with the formation of new oceanic crust.

Front

What is the relationship between seafloor spreading and continental drift?

Back

Seafloor spreading is a mechanism that explains how continents drift apart as new oceanic crust is formed.