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Seafloor spreading is important because it provides evidence for the theory of plate tectonics, which explains how and why continents move. As new crust forms at mid-ocean ridges and older crust is pushed away, it helps drive the movement of the Earth's plates and contributes to the shifting of continents over time.

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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.


Are the continents moving?

Yes, the continents are constantly moving due to plate tectonics. The movement is very slow, usually a few centimeters per year, but over millions of years, it has resulted in the shifting positions of the continents on Earth's surface.


How does the process of seafloor spreading occur with two tectonic plates moving away from each other?

Seafloor spreading happens when two tectonic plates move apart. Magma rises up from the mantle through the gap, creating new oceanic crust. As the plates continue to move apart, the new crust pushes the older crust away, causing the seafloor to spread.


What convinced scientists that Wegener's theory of continental drift was true?

While Wegner's theory of continental drift assumed that continents plowed through and over oceanic crust, his basic ideas are still upheld today. As a result of submarines and radar technology used in WWII, scientists were better able to map the seafloor. In doing so they discovered the seafloor's topography, age, magnetism, and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. After discovering that the seafloor did spread apart and that continents moved, Wegner's theory gradually became accepted.

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.


Are the continents moving?

Yes, the continents are constantly moving due to plate tectonics. The movement is very slow, usually a few centimeters per year, but over millions of years, it has resulted in the shifting positions of the continents on Earth's surface.


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.


What happened to the joined continents?

They were spread apart over a period of time when the earth's crust was moving.


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.


What causes the seafloor to spread?

rising molten magma


How would the age of the oldest rock on the continents compare with the age of the oldest rock on the seafloor?

The sea floor is young (the rocks are made at the mid oceanic ridges and spread out form there) while most of the continental rocks are older. This is because the continental crust floats on top of the oceanic crust and is therefore not recycled.


What is Russia continents?

it is spread across 2 continents of Asia and Europe.


How does the process of seafloor spreading occur with two tectonic plates moving away from each other?

Seafloor spreading happens when two tectonic plates move apart. Magma rises up from the mantle through the gap, creating new oceanic crust. As the plates continue to move apart, the new crust pushes the older crust away, causing the seafloor to spread.