Here's a breakdown of the process:
* Mid-Ocean Ridges: These underwater mountain ranges are where new crust is created.
* Magma Upwelling: Molten rock (magma) from Earth's mantle rises up through the ridge.
* Crust Formation: The magma cools and solidifies, forming new oceanic crust.
* Plate Movement: As new crust is formed, the older crust moves away from the ridge, carrying the continents along with it.
This process is a key component of plate tectonics, the theory that explains the movement of Earth's continents and the formation of mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
