A gravitational force that causes an oceanic plate to move away from a mid-ocean ridge into a subduction zone is called what?

A gravitational force that causes an oceanic plate to move away from a mid-ocean ridge into a subduction zone is called what?

• A. Quadrat
• B. Remote sensing
• C. Ridge push
• D. Quota

Answer: (C)

Ridge push is the gravitational force that drives an oceanic plate away from a mid-ocean ridge. Fresh lithosphere forms at the ridge and stands higher than the surrounding seafloor, so gravity pulls the elevated crust downslope on both sides. That downslope push effectively pushes the plate away from the ridge toward the cooler, denser lithosphere and into subduction zones. It’s one of the key forces moving plates, alongside slab pull, which acts when a sinking slab drags the rest of the plate downward. The other terms listed don’t describe a geophysical mechanism for plate movement: quadrat is unrelated, remote sensing is a method of observation, and quota means a limit.

Ridge push is the gravitational force that drives an oceanic plate away from a mid-ocean ridge. Fresh lithosphere forms at the ridge and stands higher than the surrounding seafloor, so gravity pulls the elevated crust downslope on both sides. That downslope push effectively pushes the plate away from the ridge toward the cooler, denser lithosphere and into subduction zones. It’s one of the key forces moving plates, alongside slab pull, which acts when a sinking slab drags the rest of the plate downward. The other terms listed don’t describe a geophysical mechanism for plate movement: quadrat is unrelated, remote sensing is a method of observation, and quota means a limit.