Theory of Continental Drift Flashcard

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What is the Theory of Continental Drift?

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A scientific theory that explains how continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together in a supercontinent.

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Who proposed the Theory of Continental Drift?

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Alfred Wegener.

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What is Pangea?

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The supercontinent that existed millions of years ago, where all continents were joined together.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

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What type of evidence did Wegener use to support his theory?

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Evidence from fossils, landforms, and climate.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

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Front

What is a fault?

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A break in Earth's crust along which rocks move.

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Which two continents fit together like puzzle pieces according to Wegener's theory?

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Africa and South America.

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What type of fossils did Wegener find in Antarctica?

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Plant fossils that could not survive in the current climate of Antarctica.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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What is the significance of fossil evidence in the Theory of Continental Drift?

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Fossils of the same species found on different continents suggest that these continents were once connected.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

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What is a rift?

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A geological feature where the Earth's crust is being pulled apart.

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What is the difference between a fault and a rift?

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A fault is a break where rocks move, while a rift is a region where the crust is being pulled apart.