The uplifted ridge is thought to push the oceanic plate

toward the trench formed at the subduction zone.

O

ridge push

O

ridge pull

amantha

ontatti

O

slab push

O

slab pull

Ridge push

Explanation:

Ridge push results from the force exerted by gravity on the recently formed lithospheric rock near divergent plate boundaries. The lithosphere (crust) is being newly formed at these mid-oceanic ridges from the upwelling of magma from the mantle. Gravity pushes the cooled and hardened rock away from the ridge (downhill) and exerts a force on the entire plate that moves it towards a zone of subduction.