Seafloor Spreading Worksheet
Explore the process of seafloor spreading, evidence supporting it, and its role in plate tectonics for Grade 8 science.
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Seafloor Spreading Worksheet
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Refer to your notes or textbook if needed.
1. What is the primary driving force behind seafloor spreading?
Volcanic eruptions
Convection currents in the mantle
Ocean currents
Earthquakes
2. Where does new oceanic crust form?
Deep-ocean trenches
Continental margins
Mid-ocean ridges
Volcanic islands
1. Seafloor spreading occurs at , where magma rises to form new oceanic crust.
2. The age of the oceanic crust increases as you move from the mid-ocean ridge.
3. The discovery of patterns on the seafloor provided strong evidence for seafloor spreading.
1. Seafloor spreading causes the Earth's oceans to shrink.
True
False
2. Subduction zones are areas where oceanic crust is recycled back into the mantle.
True
False
1. Describe the process of seafloor spreading, including where it occurs and what happens to the oceanic crust.
Observe the diagram below showing tectonic plates.
2. Based on the diagram and your understanding of seafloor spreading, explain how the movement of these plates contributes to the formation of new seafloor.