7.3 Alfred Wegener's Continental Drift Theory

What was Alfred Wegener's primary profession?

• Geologist

• Oceanographer

• Meteorologist

• Botanist

What observation sparked Alfred Wegener's idea about the movement of continents?

• The similar shapes of coastlines, particularly between South America and Africa.

• The distribution of icebergs in the Arctic.

• Measurements of atmospheric pressure from a hot air balloon.

• The presence of deep ocean trenches.

How was Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift initially received by the scientific community?

• It was immediately accepted as a groundbreaking discovery.

• It was met with widespread skepticism and rejection.

• It was largely ignored due to lack of interest.

• It was partially accepted but required further proof.

Besides the fit of the continents, what other type of evidence supported Alfred Wegener's theory of continental movement?

• The discovery of new ocean currents.

• The distribution of fossils and rock formations across different continents.

• Changes in global sea levels over time.

• The magnetic properties of ancient rocks.

What is the modern scientific understanding of how continents move?

• Continents drift along the ocean floor.

• Continents are fixed and do not move.

• Plates of the Earth's crust float on the mantle.

• Continents move vertically up and down.