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Sea-floor spreading is the process where new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges, pushing the existing crust apart. As the crust spreads, it carries the continents on tectonic plates with it, causing the continents to move. This movement is called plate tectonics, and it is responsible for the shifting of continents over geological time scales.

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How does seafloor spreading help to explain continental drift?

Seafloor spreading provides evidence for the theory of continental drift by showing that new oceanic crust is continuously formed at mid-ocean ridges and spreads outward, pushing the continents away from each other. This process accounts for the movement of the continents over time and helps explain how separate landmasses once formed a single supercontinent called Pangaea.


How does seafloor spreading explain continental drift?

Seafloor spreading is caused by two plates moving apart. This is caused by plate tectonics. Continental drift is also caused by plate tectonics. Therefore, we can conclude that continental drift is related to seafloor spreading. When the plates move, it carries the continents with it, and thus the continents drift away from each other.


What is seafloor spreading that ''helps'' the theory of continental drift?

How seafloor spreading helps to explain the theory of continental drift is that wegener couldn't explain why and waht force caused the continents to move and so seafloor spreading helps to explain the theory of continental drift because it shows the force that made the continents move and that was te only thing that wagener needed to prove his theory of continental drift............thanks


Think critically The ideas of Hess Wegener and others emphasize that earth is a dynamic planet. How is seafloor spreading different from continental drift?

Seafloor spreading refers to the process where new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges and spreads outward, pushing the continents apart. Continental drift, on the other hand, is the idea that the continents are slowly moving across the Earth's surface. Seafloor spreading is a mechanism that helps explain how continents drift apart as part of the larger theory of plate tectonics.


Describe how seafloor spreading helps to explain the continental drift theory?

Seafloor spreading occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is created and spreads outward from the ridge. As the crust spreads, it forces older crust away from the ridge, creating a conveyor belt-like movement of the ocean floor. This process provides evidence for the movement of continents over time, supporting the theory of continental drift proposed by Alfred Wegener.

Related Questions

How does seafloor spreading help to explain continental drift?

Seafloor spreading provides evidence for the theory of continental drift by showing that new oceanic crust is continuously formed at mid-ocean ridges and spreads outward, pushing the continents away from each other. This process accounts for the movement of the continents over time and helps explain how separate landmasses once formed a single supercontinent called Pangaea.


How does seafloor spreading explain continental drift?

Seafloor spreading is caused by two plates moving apart. This is caused by plate tectonics. Continental drift is also caused by plate tectonics. Therefore, we can conclude that continental drift is related to seafloor spreading. When the plates move, it carries the continents with it, and thus the continents drift away from each other.


What is seafloor spreading that ''helps'' the theory of continental drift?

How seafloor spreading helps to explain the theory of continental drift is that wegener couldn't explain why and waht force caused the continents to move and so seafloor spreading helps to explain the theory of continental drift because it shows the force that made the continents move and that was te only thing that wagener needed to prove his theory of continental drift............thanks


Think critically The ideas of Hess Wegener and others emphasize that earth is a dynamic planet. How is seafloor spreading different from continental drift?

Seafloor spreading refers to the process where new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges and spreads outward, pushing the continents apart. Continental drift, on the other hand, is the idea that the continents are slowly moving across the Earth's surface. Seafloor spreading is a mechanism that helps explain how continents drift apart as part of the larger theory of plate tectonics.


How are seafloor spreading and continental drift related?

Seafloor spreading is a key component of the theory of continental drift. As new oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges during seafloor spreading, it pushes the existing crust outward on both sides of the ridge. This movement can help explain how continents have shifted positions over time due to the movement of tectonic plates.


How did the seafloor spreading help prove the continental drift?

Seafloor spreading provided evidence for continental drift by showing that new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges, pushing older crust away. This process helped explain how continents could move and supported the idea of plate tectonics. The pattern of magnetic stripes on the seafloor also matched with predictions based on the movement of continents, further supporting the theory of continental drift.


What theory was developed in the 1960's to explain continental drift and seafloor spreading?

The theory of plate tectonics was developed in the 1960s to explain continental drift and seafloor spreading. It proposes that the Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that move and interact with one another, leading to phenomena like the drifting of continents and the creation of new seafloor.


Description of seafloor spreading?

Seafloor spreading is a process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge. Seafloor spreading helps explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics.


Describe how seafloor spreading helps to explain the continental drift theory?

Seafloor spreading occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is created and spreads outward from the ridge. As the crust spreads, it forces older crust away from the ridge, creating a conveyor belt-like movement of the ocean floor. This process provides evidence for the movement of continents over time, supporting the theory of continental drift proposed by Alfred Wegener.


What process helps explain how continents drifts?

Ocean-floor spreading.


What is ocean-floor spreading?

Seafloor spreading is a process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge. Seafloor spreading helps explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics.


How does seafloor spreading help scientists explain continental drift?

If one can prove that the sea floor spreads out from the mid oceanic ridges, then logically the continents must be moving apart to accommodate the spreading. Conversely there must also be places where sea floor is being destroyed if the Earth is to stay the same size.