select the correct answer. earth’s crust continuously melts and solidifies in the upper mantle. why does…

select the correct answer. earth’s crust continuously melts and solidifies in the upper mantle. why does oceanic crust solidify faster than continental crust? a. continental crust spans a wider area and is generally thinner than oceanic crust. b. magma beneath oceanic crust is a lower temperature than magma beneath continental crust. c. when magma comes into contact with ocean water it cools faster than when it reaches continental rock. d. salt in ocean water accelerates the solidification process by way of chemical reaction.

select the correct answer. earth’s crust continuously melts and solidifies in the upper mantle. why does oceanic crust solidify faster than continental crust? a. continental crust spans a wider area and is generally thinner than oceanic crust. b. magma beneath oceanic crust is a lower temperature than magma beneath continental crust. c. when magma comes into contact with ocean water it cools faster than when it reaches continental rock. d. salt in ocean water accelerates the solidification process by way of chemical reaction.

Answer

Brief Explanations:

When magma reaches the ocean - water, the high heat - capacity of water and the large volume of water lead to faster heat transfer from the magma, causing it to cool and solidify more quickly compared to when it reaches continental rock. Continental crust is thicker than oceanic crust, so option A is wrong. Magma beneath oceanic crust is not necessarily at a lower temperature, so option B is wrong. The solidification is mainly due to heat - transfer rather than a chemical reaction with salt in the water, so option D is wrong.

Answer:

C. When magma comes into contact with ocean water it cools faster than when it reaches continental rock.