Geologists tested the model of sea floor spreading by dating rocks from the ocean floor. The model successfully predicted that ocean rocks
A) get younger with increasing distance from a mid-ocean ridge.
B) get older with increasing distance from a mid-ocean ridge.
C) get older moving from south to north along the top of a mid-ocean ridge.
D) show no particular pattern of age with respect to the mid-ocean ridges.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the model of sea floor spreading, as new molten material rises and spreads out from a mid-ocean ridge, it pushes the older rocks aside, creating a pattern of rocks of increasing age with increasing distance from the ridge. This means that ocean rocks get older with increasing distance from a mid-ocean ridge. Geologists tested this model by dating rocks from the ocean floor and found that the rocks did indeed get older with increasing distance from the ridge. Therefore, the correct choice is B.

Geologists Tested the Model of Sea Floor Spreading by Dating