Here's why:
* Divergent Plate Boundaries: At mid-ocean ridges, tectonic plates move apart. This creates space where magma from the Earth's mantle rises and cools, forming new oceanic crust.
* Seafloor Spreading: As the plates continue to diverge, new crust is constantly being created, pushing older crust away from the ridge. This process is known as seafloor spreading.
* Age Gradient: This means that the seafloor gets progressively older as you move away from the mid-ocean ridge, with the youngest crust being found right at the ridge itself.
Let me know if you have any other questions!