Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics

Front

The decade when other scientists started believing Wegener's theory of continental drift.

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1950's

Front

The scientific theory that describes how the Earth’s crust (and upper mantle) is divided into plates that can move (very slowly).

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Plate Tectonics Theory

Front

The tectonic plates move apart.

Back

Divergent Boundary

Front

A German scientist who first had the idea of continental drift.

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Alfred Wegener

Front

The places where tectonic plates (big pieces of crust) meet together.

Back

Plate Boundaries

Front

The supercontinent that existed about 300 million years ago, which included all the landmasses of the Earth.

Back

Pangea

Front

The boundary where two tectonic plates collide or move towards each other.

Back

Convergent Boundary

Front

The boundary where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally.

Back

Transform Boundary

Front

The process by which tectonic plates move and interact with each other.

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Plate Movement

Front

The theory that explains the movement of the Earth's plates due to convection currents in the mantle.

Back

Plate Tectonics Theory