What is the primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift 17 letters. Two sections of the seafloor spread away from one another. A divergent boundary is a boundary between tectonic plates where the plates move away from one another – resulting in seafloor spreading in an oceanic Nov 28, 2014 · The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is known as plate tectonics. . It becomes very observable when there is a huge earthquake for example. Heat from Earth's core causes the mantle to circulate, creating convection currents that move tectonic What is the primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift 17 letters? Convection Currents Convection Currents Convection forms into currents that drive the tectonic plates either together or apart. This theory suggests that Earth's lithosphere consists of tectonic plates that move over the asthenosphere. , Plate _______. Places where the seafloor is forced under continental plates Section of the Earth below the crust. Terms in this set (16) thermal convection primary force that causes sea floor to spread and continents to drift plate tectonics pertaining to the structure or movement of the earth's crust asthenosphere Jun 10, 2024 · The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is plate tectonics. What are the forces that drive seafloor The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift Jun 15, 2025 · What Causes the Ocean Floor to Spread? The spreading of the ocean floor, a process known as seafloor spreading, is primarily driven by mantle convection and the subsequent upwelling of magma at mid-ocean ridges. This occurs through the movement and shifting of the tectonic plates under the ocean. Source of heat in the mantle. The answer is the movement of tectonic plates, which is driven by the heat from the Earth's interior causing convection currents in the mantle. The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is related to the mechanism driving plate movements. This upwelling forces the existing crust apart, allowing molten rock to rise and solidify, creating new oceanic crust and effectively pushing older crust further away from the ridge Aug 6, 2025 · Down The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift. Seafloor ______ Scientist who Sep 16, 2016 · The primary force which causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is tectonic movement of our tectonic plates. It explains how the slow motions within Earth's mantle move its crust, leading to events like continental drift and formation of geological features. These currents move the plates in different directions, leading to seafloor spreading and continental drift. Our planet's lithosphere is divided into many large and small plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. Paleontologists noticed that these were the same on different continents even though the continents were separated by oceans. , The zone below the the lithosphere it is more 'plastic' than the lithosphere so it is easier to bend and move. Explain The primary force responsible for the seafloor spreading and the drifting of continents is the theory of plate tectonics. This is known as mantle convection or tectonic forces, but more specifically, the driving force is often attributed to mantle convection. Plate ______ ______ zones. Explanation The question asks for the primary force that causes seafloor spreading and continents to drift. This theory explains the movement of Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into several tectonic plates resting on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. Oct 2, 2020 · What force causes the continents to drift? The theory of plate tectonics suggests that it is convection currents in the mantle of the earth that causes the movement of the continental plates. What is the main force that causes continental drift? The processes of seafloor spreading, rift valley formation, and subduction (where heavier tectonic plates sink beneath lighter ones) were not well-established until the 1960s. This theory provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the dynamics of Earth's crust and the underlying mantle The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is the movement of molten rock within the Earth's mantle driven by convection currents. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like The primary force that causes the sea floor to spread and continents to drift. This happens all the time but we don't observe it and don't necessarily see it. The primary force behind seafloor spreading and continental drift is plate tectonics, driven by mantle convection and gravitational forces. Jun 13, 2024 · The primary force driving seafloor spreading and continental drift is mantle convection. The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift. What is the primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift? The primary force that causes the sea floor to spread and continents to drift. and more. This process is driven by the movement of molten rock in the Earth's mantle, which generates forces The primary force causing the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is plate tectonics. Dec 1, 2021 · What Causes Seafloor Spreading? Seafloor spreading is essentially exactly what it sounds like. ak lky klwj wzkha fdn epav p5o1xs q7ll4e 8hc h8t