Evidence from
fossils, glaciers, and complementary coastlines
helps reveal how the plates once fit together. Fossils tell us when and where plants and animals once existed. Some life “rode” on diverging plates, became isolated, and evolved into new species.
What evidence exists to support the theory of plate tectonics quizlet?
Earthquakes and volcanic activity
are also evidence of plate tectonics.
What are 4 pieces of evidence that support the theory of plate tectonics?
There is variety of evidence that supports the claims that plate tectonics accounts for
(1) the distribution of fossils on different continents
, (2) the occurrence of earthquakes, and (3) continental and ocean floor features including mountains, volcanoes, faults, and trenches.
Who came up with supporting evidence for plate tectonics?
Plate tectonic theory had its beginnings in 1915 when
Alfred Wegener
proposed his theory of “continental drift.” Wegener proposed that the continents plowed through crust of ocean basins, which would explain why the outlines of many coastlines (like South America and Africa) look like they fit together like a puzzle.
Is the theory of plate tectonics proven?
Plate tectonics explains why Earth’s continents are moving; the theory of continental drift did not provide an explanation. Therefore, the theory of
plate tectonics is more complete
. … Scientists have found that the planet’s continents will likely again be joined together in about 250 million years.
What are the three theories of plate tectonics?
- Plates of lithosphere move because of convection currents in the mantle. …
- Plate boundaries can be located by outlining earthquake epicenters.
- Plates interact at three types of plate boundaries: divergent, convergent and transform.
- Most of the Earth’s geologic activity takes place at plate boundaries.
What are the two theories behind why tectonic plates move?
Why do plates move? One explanation for plate movements is
slab pull
. Plates are extremely heavy so gravity acts upon them, pulling them apart. Alternatively, as shown in the diagram, convection currents under the Earth’s crust transfer heat, which rises through the surface and cools back down in a circular motion.
What best describes the plate tectonics theory?
The theory of plate tectonics states that
the Earth’s solid outer crust, the lithosphere, is separated into plates that move over the asthenosphere
, the molten upper portion of the mantle. Oceanic and continental plates come together, spread apart, and interact at boundaries all over the planet.
What causes tectonic plates to move?
The heat from radioactive processes within the planet’s interior
causes the plates to move, sometimes toward and sometimes away from each other. This movement is called plate motion, or tectonic shift.
Which of the following is the most recent evidence of plate tectonics?
Volcanic activity and sea-floor spreading at the mid-ocean ridges
are the most recent evidence of plate tectonics.
What are the 3 causes of plate movement?
Mantle dynamics, gravity, and Earth’s rotation taken
altogether causes the plate movements. However, convectional currents are the general thought for the motion.
When two plates meet this is called?
Most volcanoes, mountains, and earthquakes occur where plates meet. Places where plates meet are called
plate boundaries
. There are seven major plates along with countless minor plates. You can see that a plate can be made of both oceanic crust and continental crust.
Who postulated the concept of plate tectonics?
German meteorologist Alfred Wegener
is often credited as the first to develop a theory of plate tectonics, in the form of continental drift.
What are the 5 evidences of continental drift theory?
They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence:
fit of the continents, paleoclimate indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils
.
Who is the father of plate tectonic theory?
The “Father of Plate Tectonics”,
Alfred Wegener
proposed “Continental Drift” in 1912, but was ridiculed by fellow scientists. It would take another 50 years for the concept to be accepted.
What is the difference between plate tectonics and continental drift?
The main difference between plate tectonics and continental drift is that
plate tectonics describes the features and movement of Earth’s surface in the present and in the past
whereas continental drift describes the drifting of Earth’s continents on the ocean bed.
