EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Mid-ocean ridges occur along divergent plate boundaries, where new ocean floor is created as the Earth’s tectonic plates spread apart. As the plates separate, molten rock rises to the seafloor, producing enormous volcanic eruptions of basalt.

Detailed explanation-2: -As old oceanic crust is subducted and melted into magma, new oceanic crust in the form of igneous rock is formed at mid-ocean ridges and volcanic hotspots.

Detailed explanation-3: -Oceanic crust is constantly formed at mid-ocean ridges, where tectonic plates are tearing apart from each other. As magma that wells up from these rifts in Earth’s surface cools, it becomes young oceanic crust. The age and density of oceanic crust increases with distance from mid-ocean ridges.

Detailed explanation-4: -In the ocean, tectonic processes continuously create and destroy oceanic crust. New crust is created at mid-ocean ridges and moves away from them over millions of years. Old crust is destroyed when it reaches seafloor trenches.

Detailed explanation-5: -Magmatic and tectonic processes at mid-ocean ridges form oceanic crust and accommodate relative plate motions. Oceanic lithosphere forms and becomes denser as the plate moves away from the mid-ocean ridge and cools.