Plate Tectonics Fossil Evidence

The African Rift valley in the image is constantly expanding or getting larger. What can you conclude or judge about the past from your observation of this image?

• continents may have broken apart in the past

• a meteorite hit the African Rift valley

• rift valleys are on every continent

• 2 landmasses combine to form the continent of Africa

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The map shows that fossils of the same animals were found on continents which are now separated by large oceans. What information found on the map provides evidence for plate tectonics?

• only some of the animals could fly from one place to the other

• all five continents were separated by water

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The map below in her textbook and observes that fossils of the same species were found on continents which are now separated by vast oceans. What information found on the map provides evidence for plate tectonics?

• the fossils represented terrestrial animals (animals that live on land)

• only the fern could survive in South America

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The map below shows that fossils of the same species were found on continents which are now separated by vast oceans. What information found on the map provides evidence for plate tectonics?

• only the Mesosaurus lived on land

• the coastlines of the continents seem to "fit" together like puzzle pieces in areas where matching fossils were found

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What is Pangea?

• process that causes tectonic plates to move around the world

• the name of an ancient super continent

• a type of lava

• the name of the scientist that discovered plate tectonics

Which 2 pieces of evidence does not support plate tectonics?

• All volcanoes that occur over a hotspot are not associated with plate boundaries.

• Rocks made of basalt (charcoal colored rock), which formed at the same time, point to the same magnetic north.

• Historical climate maps show the climates of Antarctica and Northern Africa were once the same.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

Which pieces of evidence support plate tectonics? (more than one correct answer)

• All rocks located on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean are younger than 180 million years.

• Atlantic Ocean crust found near the coast of Africa is older than the crust found near the mid-Atlantic ridge.

• When mapped, the majority of earthquakes around the world, are located at a plate boundary.

• All volcanoes that occur over a hotspot are not associated with plate boundaries.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

All rocks located on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean are younger than 180 million years.

• Yes, this is evidence which supports plate tectonics.

• No, this evidence does not support plate tectonics.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What evidence supports plate tectonics?

• fossils

• how minerals are distributed

• geographic features

• all of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Where are most volcanoes and earthquakes located?

• in the middle of the continents

• along the equator

• along the edges of tectonic plates

• near the North and South poles

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2