2. Describe What role did the analysis of mid-ocean ridges play in the

historical development of plate tectonic theory?

Plate tectonics theory scientifically explained the movement of continents, formation of islands, earthquakes and volcanoes.

Explanation:

Continental drift theory is a pioneer in the field of geology which is proposed by Alfred Wegner but it failed to explain the movements of continents, island formation, etc. Plate tectonic theory proposed the plate concepts which is completely new to geomorphology. It also explained about the movement of plates. Mid oceanic ridge is an area of the divergent or constructive plate boundary which looks like the shape of 'S' between the North American and the Eurasian plate in the North Atlantic ocean and then between the South American and the African plate in the South Atlantic ocean.

Mid-ocean ridges and plate tectonic theory

Explanation:

The German geophysicist, Alfred Wegener, proposed the continental drift theory which explained about the drifting of continents from a single large mass.

With the advent of sonar-equipped ships, scientists were able to map the ocean floor. They collected topographic data from the ocean bed which showed them varied features like valleys, high mountains, flat plains etc.

Later, they discovered a ridge in the mid-Atlantic Ocean which ran parallel to the continental coastline and up above 1-2 km above the ocean floor. Then similar mid-ocean ridges were found in other major oceans like the Pacific and the Indian Ocean which also ran parallel to the continental coastline.

These ridges corresponded to hot magma regions which drifted the ocean floor corresponding with Wegner's continental drift theory.

Later with the discovery of magnetometers and its usage in ships, scientists were able to detect the magnetism exhibited rocks on the sea floor.

Combining all the theories, the continental drift theory, ridges of mid-Atlantic Ocean, magnetism of rocks at ocean bed all led to the formulation of the plate tectonic theory.