What theory describes the lateral spreading of oceanic crust away from the mid-ocean ridge system?

The phenomenon of lateral spreading of oceanic crust away from the mid-ocean ridge system is best described by the Seafloor Spreading Theory. This theory explains how new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges through volcanic activity. As magma rises to the surface, it creates new material that pushes the older crust away from the ridge on both sides.

This movement results in the ocean basins' expansion, evidencing a gradual separation of tectonic plates, which is a significant aspect of the broader Plate Tectonics Theory. However, Seafloor Spreading specifically focuses on the process and dynamics occurring at the mid-ocean ridges.

While Plate Tectonics encompasses movements of all types of crust, including continental interactions, Seafloor Spreading hones in on the creation and displacement of oceanic crust, making it particularly relevant to this question. On the other hand, Continental Drift Theory deals more with the movement of landmasses over geological time, and Subduction Theory relates to the process by which one tectonic plate moves under another, which does not specifically describe the spreading direction from the mid-ocean ridges. Thus, the Seafloor Spreading Theory is the most accurate description of this lateral movement in