It's ... um, denser. The continents (largely SiAl, silicon-aluminium) essentially "float" on the denser SiMa (silicon-magneisum) layer.
Crust is made up of mainly granite, a felsic rock wit a lower density than basalt, what makes up the ocean's crust, thus why the continental crust rises up compared to ocean crust.
No, oceanic crust is not more buoyant than continental crust. In fact, oceanic crust is denser and thinner compared to continental crust, which is thicker and less dense. This difference in density and thickness is why oceanic crust typically lies lower than continental crust, leading to the formation of ocean basins. Consequently, continental crust is more buoyant and tends to rise above the oceanic crust.
Yes, new continental crust is not formed at mid-ocean ridges; instead, these ridges are primarily sites for the formation of new oceanic crust. At mid-ocean ridges, tectonic plates diverge, allowing magma from the mantle to rise and solidify, creating new oceanic crust. Continental crust is formed through different geological processes, such as subduction and continental collision, which occur away from mid-ocean ridges.
The crust not under the ocean is called continental crust. It is thicker and less dense compared to oceanic crust and forms the landmasses on Earth's surface.
Earths crust is the outer shell of our planet. The Earth has two types of crust. Continental crust contains igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks that covers the continents. Oceanic crust contains igneous basalt rocks derived from the upper mantle that cover the all the ocean floors. The igneous rocks are covered with sediments carried into the oceans from large rivers like the Amazon and Mississippi Rivers.
the continental crust is the plate crust formed under the continent (less density) as opposed to oceanic crustformed under the ocean(higher density)
the continental crust is the plate crust formed under the continent (less density) as opposed to oceanic crustformed under the ocean(higher density)
No, the density of Earth's crust varies depending on the type of rock and location. Generally, continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust. Continental crust is composed mostly of granite and has an average density of about 2.7 g/cm^3, while oceanic crust, which is mainly basalt, has an average density of about 3.0 g/cm^3.
Crust is made up of mainly granite, a felsic rock wit a lower density than basalt, what makes up the ocean's crust, thus why the continental crust rises up compared to ocean crust.
Because of its higher density, and gravity. One part of plate tectonic theory.
No, the oceanic crust is denser. That's why the land areas "float" so much higher than the ocean bedrock.
The crust under the ocean is thinner than continental crust. Ocean crust is also, on average, richer in minerals containing iron and magnesium, giving it a greater density than continental crust. Imagine placing two slabs of wood next to each other in a swimming pool. The first slab will be thin piece of oak and the second will be thicker piece of pine. The pine, being less dense than the oak, will stick up higher in the water and at the same time will also ride lower in the water than the oak. Similarly, both ocean crust and continental crust float on the mantle (more specifically the asthenosphere which is a layer in the upper mantle). Ocean crust is like the oak and continental crust is like the pine. Ocean crust is composed largely of the igneous rocks basalt, gabbro, and peridotite. Continental crust is much more diverse in its composition, but on average is similar in density to granite.
The crust under the ocean is thinner than continental crust. Ocean crust is also, on average, richer in minerals containing iron and magnesium, giving it a greater density than continental crust. Imagine placing two slabs of wood next to each other in a swimming pool. The first slab will be thin piece of oak and the second will be thicker piece of pine. The pine, being less dense than the oak, will stick up higher in the water and at the same time will also ride lower in the water than the oak. Similarly, both ocean crust and continental crust float on the mantle (more specifically the asthenosphere which is a layer in the upper mantle). Ocean crust is like the oak and continental crust is like the pine. Ocean crust is composed largely of the igneous rocks basalt, gabbro, and peridotite. Continental crust is much more diverse in its composition, but on average is similar in density to granite.
The crust under the ocean is thinner than continental crust. Ocean crust is also, on average, richer in minerals containing iron and magnesium, giving it a greater density than continental crust. Imagine placing two slabs of wood next to each other in a swimming pool. The first slab will be thin piece of oak and the second will be thicker piece of pine. The pine, being less dense than the oak, will stick up higher in the water and at the same time will also ride lower in the water than the oak. Similarly, both ocean crust and continental crust float on the mantle (more specifically the asthenosphere which is a layer in the upper mantle). Ocean crust is like the oak and continental crust is like the pine. Ocean crust is composed largely of the igneous rocks basalt, gabbro, and peridotite. Continental crust is much more diverse in its composition, but on average is similar in density to granite.
It is not. The oceanic crust is thinner than the continental crust!
The crust under the ocean is thinner than continental crust. Ocean crust is also, on average, richer in minerals containing iron and magnesium, giving it a greater density than continental crust. Imagine placing two slabs of wood next to each other in a swimming pool. The first slab will be thin piece of oak and the second will be thicker piece of pine. The pine, being less dense than the oak, will stick up higher in the water and at the same time will also ride lower in the water than the oak. Similarly, both ocean crust and continental crust float on the mantle (more specifically the asthenosphere which is a layer in the upper mantle). Ocean crust is like the oak and continental crust is like the pine. Ocean crust is composed largely of the igneous rocks basalt, gabbro, and peridotite. Continental crust is much more diverse in its composition, but on average is similar in density to granite.
Ocean crust is denser