Final answer:
Areas of reverse magnetic polarity are symmetrically located on both sides of mid-ocean ridges. This pattern of magnetic stripes in the oceanic crust is due to the Earth's magnetic field reversals and is utilized alongside the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale to date geological events.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two locations on the east side of mid-ocean ridges representing areas of reverse magnetic polarity are symmetrically found on either side of the ridge. At these locations, the sea floor spreads, and new rocks are formed with the current Earth's magnetic field direction.
When the polarity reverses, the newly formed rocks capture the reversed magnetic signature, creating a pattern of magnetic stripes on the ocean floor that is mirrored on opposite sides of the ridge. This pattern is an essential piece of evidence for the theory of plate tectonics, illustrating how the Earth's magnetic field has changed over time.
By studying this pattern and measuring the rate at which the sea floor spreads, geologists can use the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS) to date these changes and understand the history of Earth's magnetic field.