How does the age of oceanic crust generally change with distance from a mid-ocean ridge?

The age of oceanic crust generally increases with distance from a mid-ocean ridge. Mid-ocean ridges are formed by the process of seafloor spreading, where tectonic plates pull apart and magma rises to create new oceanic crust. As this new crust is formed at the ridge, it is relatively young.

As tectonic plates continue to move away from the ridge, the newly formed crust gradually cools and solidifies. Over time, the crust that is further from the ridge has been existing for a longer period, leading to older ages. Thus, the alignments of different ages of the oceanic crust create a symmetrical pattern where crust closest to the mid-ocean ridge is the youngest, while the crust that is farther away is older.

This consistent increase in age from the mid-ocean ridge is a fundamental component of plate tectonics and supports the theory of seafloor spreading, demonstrating how oceanic crust is continually created and recycled.