Sea Floor Spreading Reading
This idea played a pivotal role in the development of the theory of plate tectonics which revolutionized geologic thought during the last quarter of the 20th century.
Sea floor spreading reading. Seafloor spreading occurs along mid ocean ridges large mountain ranges rising from the ocean floor. This video goes over the process of sea floor spreading and the evidence that supports this theory. This lesson is the first day of a two day lesson involving the process of sea floor spreading. Layers of the earth pdf or google doc guided reading.
Sea floor spreading the longest chain of mountains in the world is the system of mid ocean ridges. This is a 50 000 mile chain of volcanic mountains in the middle of the ocean. Sonar is a device that bounces sound waves off underwater objects and then records the echoes of these sound waves. As magma starts to harden into rock iron rich minerals solidify first.
Plate boundaries pdf or google doc convection currents worksheet pdf or google doc sea floor spreading worksheet pdf or google doc coloring plates activity. 3 the mid ocean ridge is found throughout the oceans of the earth. Since the lesson itself is pretty ambitious in terms of what students are tasked to do it necessitates at least two periods i have around 60 minutes period of task time in order for students to complete everything. Once the basalt cools completely into solid rock the.
586 7 10 13 15 16 guided reading. Continental drift sea floor spreading pdf or google doc pg. Seafloor spreading is a process that occurs at mid ocean ridges where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge. Once students learn about the mid ocean ridge drifting continents and how the earth moves from the reading they can put their knowledge to the test with a works.
Most basalt magmas contain abundant molten iron. In the mid 1900s scientists mapped the mid ocean ridges using sonar. Earlier theories by alfred wegener and alexander du toit of continental drift postulated that. Their crystals are pulled into alignment by the earth s magnetic field just like a compass needle is pulled towards magnetic north.
This sea floor spreading reading and worksheet gives your students a 2 page reading which is easy to comprehend and full of information.