Earth Science Lesson 1 & 2 Flashcard

Front

What is the mid-ocean ridge?

Back

The longest chain of underwater mountains in the world.

Front

What was Pangaea?

Back

An ancient supercontinent that existed when all today's continents were joined together.

Front

What was one criticism of Wegener's continental drift hypothesis?

Back

Wegener could not explain the forces that would be strong enough to move continents.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Large sections of Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other.

Front

How do tectonic plates vary?

Back

Plates vary in shape and size.

Front

Who was Alfred Wegener?

Back

A German scientist who hypothesized that today's continents broke apart from one large landmass.

Front

What is continental drift?

Back

The theory that continents have moved over geological time from a single supercontinent.

Front

What evidence did Wegener use to support his hypothesis?

Back

Fossil evidence, geological similarities, and climate evidence.

Front

What is the significance of the theory of plate tectonics?

Back

It explains the movement of Earth's plates and the geological activity associated with it.

Front

What is sonar used for in oceanography?

Back

To map the ocean floor and discover underwater features.