Ridge Push

Ridge push is a process that helps drive plate tectonics on Earth. At divergent boundaries, like mid-ocean ridges, new crust forms and causes the elevated, submerged ridge to gently slide down the surrounding ocean floor due to gravity. This gravitational force creates a "push" that moves tectonic plates away from the ridge. Essentially, as magma rises and solidifies at the ridges, the height difference causes the plates to slide outward, aiding in the movement of Earth's crust over geological time. Ridge push is one of the factors working alongside others like slab pull to shape Earth's surface.