Sea Floor Spreading Worksheet With Answers

Sea Floor Spreading Worksheet

Part 1: Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the primary mechanism driving sea floor spreading? a) Continental drift b) Plate tectonics c) Convection currents in the Earth’s mantle d) Weathering and erosion

Answer: c) Convection currents in the Earth’s mantle

1. Which of the following is a characteristic of mid-ocean ridges? a) Deep trenches b) Mountain building c) Volcanic activity and creation of new oceanic crust d) Continental shelf

Answer: c) Volcanic activity and creation of new oceanic crust

1. What is the result of sea floor spreading at a mid-ocean ridge? a) The Earth’s surface is reduced b) The Earth’s surface remains the same c) The Earth’s surface is increased d) The Earth’s surface is rearranged

Answer: c) The Earth’s surface is increased

Part 2: Short Answer Questions

1. Describe the process of sea floor spreading.

Sea floor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges and then moves away from the ridge as magma rises from the Earth’s mantle and solidifies. This process is driven by convection currents in the Earth’s mantle and results in the continuous creation of new oceanic crust.

1. What is the significance of magnetic stripes in sea floor spreading?

Magnetic stripes are parallel strips of alternating magnetic polarity found in the oceanic crust on either side of a mid-ocean ridge. They provide evidence for sea floor spreading and indicate that the Earth’s magnetic field has reversed many times over the past few billion years.

Part 3: Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. The age of the oceanic crust ______________________ as you move away from a mid-ocean ridge.

Answer: increases

1. The process of sea floor spreading is driven by ______________________ currents in the Earth’s mantle.

Answer: convection

1. Mid-ocean ridges are characterized by ______________________ activity and the creation of new oceanic crust.

Answer: volcanic

Part 4: Essay Question

Describe the process of sea floor spreading and its significance in understanding the Earth’s surface. Be sure to include the role of convection currents, mid-ocean ridges, and magnetic stripes in your answer.

Answer:

Sea floor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges and then moves away from the ridge as magma rises from the Earth’s mantle and solidifies. This process is driven by convection currents in the Earth’s mantle, which are slow movements of hot, viscous rock. As the magma rises, it cools and solidifies, creating new oceanic crust. This process is continuous, resulting in the continuous creation of new oceanic crust.

The significance of sea floor spreading lies in its ability to explain many geological phenomena. The discovery of mid-ocean ridges and the existence of magnetic stripes provided key evidence for the theory of plate tectonics. The magnetic stripes indicate that the Earth’s magnetic field has reversed many times over the past few billion years, providing a record of the Earth’s magnetic history.

In addition, sea floor spreading provides a mechanism for the movement of the Earth’s surface. The continuous creation of new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges pushes older crust apart, resulting in the movement of the Earth’s surface. This movement is responsible for the formation of mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

Notes

🌊 Note: Sea floor spreading is a key concept in understanding the Earth's surface and the movement of the Earth's crust.

🌊 Note: The discovery of mid-ocean ridges and magnetic stripes provided key evidence for the theory of plate tectonics.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sea floor spreading is a fundamental process that shapes our understanding of the Earth’s surface. The continuous creation of new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges, driven by convection currents in the Earth’s mantle, provides a mechanism for the movement of the Earth’s surface. The significance of sea floor spreading lies in its ability to explain many geological phenomena and provide a record of the Earth’s magnetic history.

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