UPCAT Earth Science Practice Test

Seafloor spreading occurs at divergent boundaries, where two tectonic plates are moving away from each other. As these plates separate, magma from the mantle rises to fill the gap, leading to the creation of new oceanic crust. This process results in the formation of mid-ocean ridges, which are prominent geological features associated with seafloor spreading. The continuous addition of new material from the mantle contributes to the expansion of the ocean floor over time.

In contrast, subduction zones involve the sinking of one tectonic plate beneath another and are associated with convergent boundaries. Transform faults, where two plates slide past each other horizontally, do not facilitate the generation of new crust but rather are sites of lateral motion. Therefore, the relationship between seafloor spreading and divergent boundaries is crucial in understanding the dynamics of plate tectonics and the processes that shape ocean basins.