Sea Floor Spreading Model Cut Out

If you were making a model of sea floor spreading what are the important ideas that are associated with seafloor spreading.

Sea floor spreading model cut out. White 8 x 11 in. This model represents the flow of lava over time due to plate tectonics at mid oceanic ridges seafloor spreading. For instance the atlantic ocean is believed to be expanding because of its few trenches. The mid atlantic ridge for instance separates the north american plate from the eurasian plate and the south american plate from the african plate the east pacific rise is a mid ocean ridge that runs through the eastern pacific ocean and separates the pacific plate from the north american.

The strips of paper represent oceanic crust or seafloor. Seafloor spreading occurs along mid ocean ridges large mountain ranges rising from the ocean floor. You can make your own model of a spreading oceanic ridge offset by transform faults as follows. Going to consider how we might make a model that would explain or demonstrate sea floor spreading.

A model of seafloor spreading key 1. The 4 tactile surfaces will represent rock of various ages depending on how long ago it was laid down. 25 x 35 cm. Please refer to the picture as you build this model.

The base is best if made from poster board or card stock. 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. Cut 3 slits each slightly more than 8 cm wide. You may wish to cut the paper model pieces for the students ahead of time or use a model you have made as a demonstration for the class.

The center slit represents a mid ocean ridge 2. Take a cardboard cylinder shaped container such as a quaker oats container and cut a vertical slit about 3 inches long and inch wide down the side. Place a piece of white paper on the cardboard and cut the paper so that flaps of paper can be pulled. Think pair share turn and talk to your elbow partner.

Use the model to show them the creation of new sea floor at spreading centers and the disappearance of old sea floor at subduction zones. The earth does not get bigger. Seafloor spreading is the creation of new seafloor or new oceanic crust 5. To create a working model of sea floor spreading follow the model seen below figure 1.

Due to this continuous seafloor spreading occurs and makes atlantic ocean floor to be connected to other continental crust making the ocean gets wider over the time. Subduction and sea floor spreading are processes that could alter the size and form of the ocean. Cut out the labels approximately 1 tall by 1 2 wide. Create a model of the spreading sea floor.

Cut slits in the cardboard each about 2 mm wide as shown eg. Cut out a piece of stiff cardboard eg. Seafloor spreading theory that oceanic crust forms along submarine mountain zones known collectively as the mid ocean ridge system and spreads out laterally away from them.