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Originally conceived as "continental drift," the theory of plate tectonics explains the motion of Earth's landmasses. However, there is still much debate as to what drives this motion. Explanations include upper mantle convection currents, forces due to gravity, and the effect of the Earth's rotation.

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What was the primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift?

The primary force driving seafloor spreading and continental drift is mantle convection. Heat from Earth's core causes the mantle to circulate, creating convection currents that move tectonic plates, leading to the spreading of the seafloor and movement of continents.


What is the primary force that cause the seafloor to spread and continental to drift?

The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is plate tectonics. This process is driven by the movement of molten rock in the Earth's mantle, which generates forces that push apart tectonic plates, leading to seafloor spreading and continental drift.


What is the primary force that causes the sea floor to spread and continents to drift?

Radiologyinfotation


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.


How is seafloor spreading different than continental drift?

Seafloor spreading is the process where new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and then moves apart, while continental drift refers to the movement of continents on the Earth's surface. Seafloor spreading is one mechanism that helps drive the movement of continents as part of plate tectonics.

Related Questions

What primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift?

Geothermal Drift.


What is a seventeen letter word for a primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift?

thermal convection


What was the primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift?

The primary force driving seafloor spreading and continental drift is mantle convection. Heat from Earth's core causes the mantle to circulate, creating convection currents that move tectonic plates, leading to the spreading of the seafloor and movement of continents.


What is the primary force that cause the seafloor to spread and continental to drift?

The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is plate tectonics. This process is driven by the movement of molten rock in the Earth's mantle, which generates forces that push apart tectonic plates, leading to seafloor spreading and continental drift.


The primary source that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift?

In the middle of the ocean is a rift where the ocean floor squeezes out lava and pushes the ocean plates apart.


How Does Seafloor Spreading Effect Continental Drift?

the primary force that causes the seaffloor to spread and contienents to drift


What does seafloor spreading have to do with the theory of continental drift?

Seafloor Spreading helped move the Continents to their current location.


What is the primary force that causes the continents to drift?

thermal convection is the primary force that cause the sea floor to spread


What is the primary force that causes the sea floor to spread and continents to drift?

Radiologyinfotation


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.


The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift?

The primary force behind seafloor spreading and continental drift is convection currents in the Earth's mantle. These currents move the tectonic plates above them, causing them to either spread apart or collide. The spreading of seafloor and the shifting of continents are part of the larger process of plate tectonics.


How does seafloor spearing and continental drift link together?

Seafloor spreading and continental drift are linked through the theory of plate tectonics. Seafloor spreading occurs at mid-oceanic ridges, where new crust is formed and pushes apart the plates on either side. This process helps drive the movement of continents, as the newly formed crust pushes older crust away from the ridges and towards the continents, contributing to the overall process of continental drift.