Background: At the mid-oceanic ridges, two tectonic plates diverge from one another as new oceanic crust is formed by the cooling and solidifying of hot molten rock. Because the crust is very thin at these ridges due to the pull of the tectonic plates, the release of pressure leads to adiabatic expansion (without transfer of heat or matter) and the partial melting of the mantle, causing volcanism and creating new oceanic crust. Most divergent plate boundaries are at the bottom of the oceans; therefore, most volcanic activity on the Earth is submarine, forming new seafloor. Black smokers (also known as deep sea vents) are evidence of this kind of volcanic activity. Where the mid-oceanic ridge is above sea-level, volcanic islands are formed; for example, Iceland.

Situation: Two oceans have divergent plate boundaries at the bottom of their floor. The Arctic ocean has a single dormant divergent plate, while the Pacific ocean has seven diverging tectonic plates under its waters.

Question: Which ocean experiences the forming of more oceanic crusts?
Answer: Pacific

Situation: Two oceans have divergent plate boundaries at the bottom of their floor. The Arctic ocean has a single dormant divergent plate, while the Pacific ocean has seven diverging tectonic plates under its waters.

Question: Which ocean experiences the forming of fewer oceanic crusts?
Answer: Arctic

Situation: Two oceans have divergent plate boundaries at the bottom of their floor. The Arctic ocean has a single dormant divergent plate, while the Pacific ocean has seven diverging tectonic plates under its waters.

Question: Which ocean experiences more cooling of hot molten rock?
Answer: Pacific

Situation: Two oceans have divergent plate boundaries at the bottom of their floor. The Arctic ocean has a single dormant divergent plate, while the Pacific ocean has seven diverging tectonic plates under its waters.

Question: Which ocean experiences less cooling of hot molten rock?
Answer: Arctic

Situation: Two oceans have divergent plate boundaries at the bottom of their floor. The Arctic ocean has a single dormant divergent plate, while the Pacific ocean has seven diverging tectonic plates under its waters.

Question: Which ocean experiences less solidifying of hot molten rock?
Answer: Arctic

Situation: Two oceans have divergent plate boundaries at the bottom of their floor. The Arctic ocean has a single dormant divergent plate, while the Pacific ocean has seven diverging tectonic plates under its waters.

Question: Which ocean experiences more solidifying of hot molten rock?
Answer: Pacific

Situation: Two oceans have divergent plate boundaries at the bottom of their floor. The Arctic ocean has a single dormant divergent plate, while the Pacific ocean has seven diverging tectonic plates under its waters.

Question: Which ocean experiences more adiabatic expansion?
Answer: Pacific

Situation: Two oceans have divergent plate boundaries at the bottom of their floor. The Arctic ocean has a single dormant divergent plate, while the Pacific ocean has seven diverging tectonic plates under its waters.

Question: Which ocean experiences less adiabatic expansion?
Answer: Arctic

Situation: Two oceans have divergent plate boundaries at the bottom of their floor. The Arctic ocean has a single dormant divergent plate, while the Pacific ocean has seven diverging tectonic plates under its waters.

Question: Which ocean experiences less volcanism?
Answer: Arctic

Situation: Two oceans have divergent plate boundaries at the bottom of their floor. The Arctic ocean has a single dormant divergent plate, while the Pacific ocean has seven diverging tectonic plates under its waters.

Question: Which ocean experiences more volcanism?
Answer: Pacific

Situation: Hank and Dean studied plate tectonics in college. Hank learned more about divergent boundaries, while Dean read more about convergent boundaries.

Question: Which student read more about the forming of new oceanic crust?
Answer: Hank

Situation: Hank and Dean studied plate tectonics in college. Hank learned more about divergent boundaries, while Dean read more about convergent boundaries.

Question: Which student read less about the forming of new oceanic crust?
Answer: Dean

Situation: Hank and Dean studied plate tectonics in college. Hank learned more about divergent boundaries, while Dean read more about convergent boundaries.

Question: Which student read less about the release of pressure leading to adiabatic expansion?
Answer: Dean

Situation: Hank and Dean studied plate tectonics in college. Hank learned more about divergent boundaries, while Dean read more about convergent boundaries.

Question: Which student read more about the release of pressure leading to adiabatic expansion?
Answer: Hank

Situation: Hank and Dean studied plate tectonics in college. Hank learned more about divergent boundaries, while Dean read more about convergent boundaries.

Question: Which student read more about volcanism and creating new oceanic crust?
Answer: Hank

Situation: Hank and Dean studied plate tectonics in college. Hank learned more about divergent boundaries, while Dean read more about convergent boundaries.

Question: Which student read less about volcanism and creating new oceanic crust?
Answer: Dean

Situation: Hank and Dean studied plate tectonics in college. Hank learned more about divergent boundaries, while Dean read more about convergent boundaries.

Question: Which student read less about the bottoms of the oceans?
Answer: Dean

Situation: Hank and Dean studied plate tectonics in college. Hank learned more about divergent boundaries, while Dean read more about convergent boundaries.

Question: Which student read more about the bottoms of the oceans?
Answer: Hank

Situation: Hank and Dean studied plate tectonics in college. Hank learned more about divergent boundaries, while Dean read more about convergent boundaries.

Question: Which student read more about the forming of new sea floor?
Answer: Hank

Situation: Hank and Dean studied plate tectonics in college. Hank learned more about divergent boundaries, while Dean read more about convergent boundaries.

Question: Which student read less about the forming of new sea floor?
Answer: Dean