Continental Drift Theory

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What is the Continental Drift Theory?

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The Continental Drift Theory is the idea that continents have moved over geological time from a single supercontinent called Pangaea to their current locations.

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Who proposed the Continental Drift Theory?

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Alfred Wegener proposed the Continental Drift Theory in the early 20th century.

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What is Pangaea?

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Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, where all of Earth's continents were once connected.

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

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Wegener used fossil evidence, rock formation evidence, and climate evidence to support his theory.

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What is fossil evidence?

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Fossil evidence refers to the remains of dead plants or animals preserved in rock, which can show how species were distributed across continents.

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What is rock formation evidence?

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Rock formation evidence is the observation that similar rock types and mountain ranges are found on different continents, suggesting they were once connected.

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What is climate evidence in the context of continental drift?

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Climate evidence includes the study of past climates, such as glacial deposits found in now tropical regions, indicating that continents have moved.

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Why is the presence of land reptile fossils on different continents significant?

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It suggests that the continents were once connected, as land reptiles could not swim across oceans.

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What is soil evidence?

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Soil evidence refers to the characteristics of soil that do not support Wegener's theory, as it was not used to support continental drift.

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What are tectonic plates?

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Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries, causing geological activity.