The main problem with Wegener’s hypothesis of Continental Drift was
the lack of a mechanism
. He did not have an explanation for how the continents moved. His attempt to explain it using tides only made things worse.
What was the flaw in Wegener’s continental drift theory?
The greatest problem facing Wegener was
the lack of direct evidence for the movements of continents
(no GPS at the time!) and no mechanism was known to be powerful enough to move entire continents.
What are the two reasons Wegener’s theory of continental drift was rejected?
Wegener’s inability to provide an adequate explanation of the forces responsible for continental drift
and the prevailing belief that the earth was solid and immovable resulted in the scientific dismissal of his theories.
What was the main problem Continental Drift couldn’t explain?
Portrayal of thermal convection as a mechanism. The main issue with Wegener’s Continental Drift Theory was
he did not have a mechanism behind the drifting of continents
.
What are 2 pieces of the 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.
Why is the continental drift theory not accepted?
The main reason that Wegener’s hypothesis was not accepted was
because he suggested no mechanism for moving the continents
. He thought the force of Earth’s spin was sufficient to cause continents to move, but geologists knew that rocks are too strong for this to be true.
What is Wegener’s 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.
Why was Pangea not accepted?
Despite having this geological and paleontological evidence, Wegener’s theory of continental drift was not accepted by the scientific community, because
his explanation of the driving forces behind continental movement
(which he said stemmed from the pulling force that created Earth’s equatorial bulge or the …
What do scientists now think is causing the continents to move?
Plate tectonic theory
explains why continents continue to move. The planet’s outer shell consists of plates that move a few centimeters a year. Heat from the Earth’s interior causes this motion to happen via convection currents in the mantle.
What was one of the main objections to the continental drift theory?
One of the main objections to the continental drift hypothesis was
the inability of its supporters to provide an acceptable mechanism for the movement of continents
.
What are the five evidences 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
.
Do continents really move?
Today, we know that the continents rest on massive slabs of rock called tectonic plates. The plates are always moving and interacting in a process called plate tectonics.
The continents are still moving today
. … The two continents are moving away from each other at the rate of about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) per year.
Why do tectonic plates 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.
What are the 4 evidences of continental drift?
They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence:
fit of the continents, paleoclimate indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils
.
What caused Pangea to break up?
Scientists believe that Pangea broke apart for the same
reason that the plates are moving today
. The movement is caused by the convection currents that roll over in the upper zone of the mantle. This movement in the mantle causes the plates to move slowly across the surface of the Earth.
Are the continents floating?
The continents do not float on a sea of molten rock
. … Under the continents is a layer of solid rock known as the upper mantle or asthenosphere. Though solid, this layer is weak and ductile enough to slowly flow under heat convection, causing the tectonic plates to move.
