Level B-Evidences of Plate Movements

Front

What is Alfred Wegener’s Continental Drift Theory?

Back

A theory proposing that continents were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangaea and have since drifted apart.

Front

Why was Alfred Wegener’s Continental Drift Theory not accepted immediately?

Back

He could not explain the mechanism that caused the continents to drift.

Front

What is the name of the supercontinent that existed millions of years ago?

Back

Pangaea.

Front

What is seafloor spreading?

Back

The process that forms and moves new oceanic crust, occurring at mid-ocean ridges.

Front

What evidence supports the theory of seafloor spreading?

Back

Molten magma eruptions, drilling samples of rock, and magnetic stripes on the ocean floor.

Front

What is paleomagnetism?

Back

The study of the magnetic properties of rocks to understand the historical movements of the Earth's tectonic plates.

Front

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

Back

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

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries, causing geological activity.

Front

What is the process of subduction?

Back

The process where one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the mantle.

Front

What is a mid-ocean ridge?

Back

An underwater mountain range formed by plate tectonics, where new oceanic crust is created.