HOME-BASED LABORATORY ACTIVITY

SCIENCE 10
QUARTER 1 WEEK 8
ACTIVITY 3 SEAFLOOR SPREADING
Introduction
In our previous lesson, you have learned about Continental Drift Theory which
states that the continents are slowly drifting around the Earth and was once a large
landmass called Pangaea. This supercontinent Pangaea was divided into two
supercontinents named Laurasia and Gondwanaland which eventually drifted into
today’s seven (7) continents.
But what causes these continents to drift? What evidence can be used to
support this idea?
Alfred Lothar Wegener, identified several pieces of evidence to support his
claim about this theory. These include the shape or matching edges of continents or
rocks, fossil evidence, coal deposits in Antarctica, ancient climates, and glacier
carvings. However, these were not enough to explain the drifting of landmasses.
In 1962, a geologist and US Navy Reserve Rear Admiral named Harry Hess
has proposed that it was the seafloor itself that was pushing the continents apart. He
believed that the mid-Atlantic ridge is where new seafloor is being added to the Earth’s
lithosphere which in turn pushes the continents apart. Hess called it seafloor
spreading.
In this home-based laboratory activity, you will find out how seafloor spreading
occurs and how it supports Continental Drift Theory.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this home-based laboratory activity, you should be able to:
1. describe the process of seafloor spreading;
2. illustrate how convection current relates to seafloor spreading; and
3. create a model of seafloor spreading.

Materials
 shoebox (if not available, use other alternative materials)
 coloring material
 pair of scissors
 cutter
 ruler
 pencil
 glue/tape
 striped strip template (Appendix A)
 illustration of seafloor spreading (Appendix B)
  Procedures
A. PREPARING THE TEMPLATES
1. Prepare all the materials needed such as scissors, striped strip template, and
coloring materials.
2. Look for the striped strip template (Appendix A). You may print another copy of the
template if you want to make your strip longer depending on the size of your model.
3. Color each stripe using red and yellow. Start with the red color from the top, followed
by yellow. Use it alternately. Color the Strip A first, then do the same
with Strip B. (The stripes on the strips represent magnetic reversal which will be further
discussed in the next topic.)
4. After coloring, cut the strip along its borders. You may paste the strip on a cartolina or
another bond paper to make it thicker.
5. Look for the illustration of seafloor spreading (Appendix B).
6. Color the template.
7. Cut it based on the size of the front surface of the shoebox.

B. PRE PARING THE BASE

1. Prepare the materials needed such as a shoebox,
ruler, scissors, and cutter.
2. Make three (3) slits measuring 9 cm each on the
shoebox cover as shown in Figure 1. The width of
the slit should be at least 0.3 cm so that the strip
can slide freely.
3. The two side slits (Slit 1 and Slit 3) should be both
13-cm apart from the middle slit (Slit 2). Refer to
Figure 1 as your guide.
4. Paste the illustration of seafloor spreading on the
front surface of the shoebox.

C. ATTACHING THE STRIPED STRIP TEMPLATE TO THE BASE

1. Prepare the necessary materials namely two (2) striped strips, a base, and glue/tape.
2. Put the two striped strips of paper together so that the “START” labels touch one
another.
3. Insert the strips up through the center slit, then slowly pull the tip of each strip toward
the side slits at the same time.
4. Insert the ends of the strips into the side slits. Pull the ends of the strips and attach
each end to the other end of the strip.
5. Pull the strips sideward simultaneously. Observe what happens at the center slit.
Observation
Describe what happens to the strips as you pull them sideward.
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Questions
1. What do the strips represent?
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2. What does the base represent?
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3. What does the middle slit represent? What occurs in this region?
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4. Based on the illustration on the front side of the base, how does convection current
relate to seafloor spreading?
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5. What is the role of the mid-ocean ridge in the movement of lithospheric plates?
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6. How does the new seafloor form at the mid-ocean ridge?
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7. How will you relate the distance of the seafloor from the mid-ocean ridge to its age?
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8. What process happens at the side slits?
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9. Is the earth getting larger and wider when plates drift away from each other? Explain
briefly.
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Application
After performing the activity, how does seafloor spreading support continental drift theory?
Explain briefly.
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Generalization
Write your generalization.