Question

Compared to continental crust, oceanic crust tends to be: (age, thickness, density)?

1) Younger, Thicker, Less Dense
2) Older, Thinner, Less Dense
3) Younger, Thicker, More Dense
4) Older, Thinner, More Dense

Answer 1

Oceanic crust is younger, thinner, and denser compared to continental crust due to its continuous formation at mid-ocean ridges, resulting in distinct characteristics.So the correct option is 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

Oceanic crust typically is younger, thinner, and denser compared to continental crust.

It forms at mid-ocean ridges through volcanic activity, constantly renewing itself.

Its age rarely exceeds 200 million years, much younger than continental crust.

In terms of thickness, oceanic crust averages around 5-10 kilometers, notably thinner than continental crust, which can range from 20 to 70 kilometers thick.

Additionally, oceanic crust's higher density is due to its composition, primarily basaltic rock, which is denser than the granitic rock forming continental crust.

The younger age, thinner structure, and higher density of oceanic crust contribute to its characteristic behavior,

such as its tendency to subduct beneath continental crust at convergent plate boundaries,

influencing various geological processes like the formation of trenches, volcanic arcs, and earthquakes along plate boundaries.

So the correct option is 3.