The theory of plate tectonics explains most of the features of Earth’s surface. It explains why earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain ranges are where they are.
What is Alfred Wegener theory?
Alfred Wegener in Greenland. Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth’s land masses are in constant motion . The realization that Earth’s land masses move was first proposed by Alfred Wegener, which he called continental drift. ... But the continents actually are shifting, very slowly, relative to one another.
What is the name of the theory that explains why mountain ranges in Africa and South Africa lineup?
The geological theory explaining continental drift is plate tectonics . The large, more or less rigid rafts of rock on which the continents float are called plates.
What do you mean by continental drift theory?
Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth’s surface . Set forth in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why look-alike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents.
What is the difference between continental drift theory and plate tectonic theory?
The theory of continental drift suggests that all the land masses on earth were once part of one supercontinent . Plate tectonics is the ability to measure the movement of land masses.
Are presently curvy mountain ranges originally straight?
In a nutshell, their combined study has found that the curved pattern of the Cantabrian Arc was produced by the bending of an originally straight mountain range.
What did Alfred Wegener find in Africa India South America and Australia that showed him they were all covered by ice at one time group of answer choices?
What did Alfred Wegener find in Africa, India, South America, Australia, that showed him that they were all covered by ice at one time? ... this allowed Alfred Wegener to use this as scientific proof of his Continental drift theory .
What are the 4 evidence of continental drift?
The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents; the distribution of ancient fossils, rocks, and mountain ranges; and the locations of ancient climatic zones .
What are the 3 theories of plate tectonics?
The three types of plate boundaries are divergent, convergent, and transform . They are described in the following three concepts. Most geological activity takes place at plate boundaries.
What evidence did Alfred use?
He used fossil evidence , such as that of tropical plants found on the Arctic island of Spitzbergen. He found large-scale geographic features that matched, like the Appalachian Mountains in the United States and the Scottish Highlands, as well as rock strata in South Africa that matched those in Brazil.
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 .
Why was the theory of continental drift rejected?
This idea was quickly rejected by the scientific community primarily because the actual forces generated by the rotation of the earth were calculated to be insufficient to move continents .
What is the importance of continental drift theory?
continental drift, large-scale horizontal movements of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time . This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it.
What are the 4 types of plate tectonics?
- Divergent: extensional; the plates move apart. Spreading ridges, basin-range.
- Convergent: compressional; plates move toward each other. Includes: Subduction zones and mountain building.
- Transform: shearing; plates slide past each other. Strike-slip 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.
Why is plate tectonics a theory?
Plate tectonics is a theory because it provides an explanation of why and how segments of the earth move and cause earthquakes and mountains and volcanos .
