Why is the ocean crust highest at ocean ridges?
Question:
Why is the ocean crust highest at ocean ridges?
a. where the ocean crust is densest
b. where the ocean crust is coolest
c. where the ocean crust is youngest
d. where the ocean crust is thickest
Final answer:
The crust is highest in ocean ridges where it is youngest and thickest.
Answer:
Final answer:
The crust is highest in ocean ridges where the ocean crust is youngest due to its lower density and higher temperature, which causes it to sit higher on the mantle.
Explanation:
The crust is highest in ocean ridges where the ocean crust is youngest. The oceanic crust is typically about 6 kilometers thick and made up of volcanic rocks like basalt, which form the ocean floor. New crust is created at mid-ocean ridges, where tectonic plates are pulling apart and magma rises to the surface, cools, and solidifies. This young crust, being less dense due to its high temperature, sits higher on the mantle compared to older, denser, and cooler oceanic crust that has had more time to cool and contract. This is why the crust is highest at the ridge where it is young and hot, contributing to the elevation of the ridge above the surrounding ocean floor.