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Magnetic stripes record a spreading ocean floor

Alternating bands on either side of a ridge helped scientists connect magnetic reversals with seafloor spreading. Their arrangement offered a testable pattern, contributing evidence to a much larger account of how Earth’s surface moves.

8–10 min

Questions you could explore

  • Why would a matching pattern on opposite sides of a ridge matter?
  • How can the order of magnetic reversals help compare the ages of seafloor bands?

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2–3 min
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4–5 min
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