Question

Examining rocks that form on either side of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge provides evidence that supports the theory of Plate Tectonics. This is because we see evidence of plate movement in the fact that as we look at rocks farther and farther from the ridge, the rocks:

a) have higher iron content.
b) are made up of smaller particles.
c) become thicker and thicker.
d) are consistently older.

Answer 1

Studying the changing ages of rocks as one moves away from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge confirms the seafloor spreading, which is a key evidence of Plate Tectonics. Recorded magnetic reversals in these rocks also offer a historical record of Earth's magnetic field changes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Examining rocks that form on either side of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge provides evidence supporting the theory of Plate Tectonics. As we look at rocks farther from the ridge, we find that they are consistently older. This dating of rocks reveals the age of the sea floor and confirms that new material is being added at the center of the ridge and pushed outward, which shows the plates are moving apart.

The study of the reversal of the Earth's magnetic field captured by these rocks provides further evidence of seafloor spreading. Thus, knowing the spreading rate can help us to establish a historical record of Earth's geological activity.