History of Plate Tectonics

Learn the history of plate tectonics and how Earth's continents moved!

Alfred Wegener's Theory of Continental Drift Which is the bestreason why no one believed Wegener’s ideas about continental drift? he lacked (didn't have) evidence he was not a trained geologists and lacked credibility he had no explanation for how the plates moved Which of these best explains how Earth's surface features are formed by moving tectonic plates? Earth's gravity acts as an opposing force, causing the crust to push upward, break into individual plates, and move along the surface. The minerals in lithospheric plates are attracted to Earth's magnetic poles, which causes them to move along the surface. The spinning of Earth's outer core causes the lithosphere to break into individual plates and collide with each other. Earth's crust is separated into individual plates that float on top of molten material, which causes them to slowly move. One piece of evidence in support of plate tectonic theory is that the east coast of South America - is lined by a chain of volcanic mountains fits like a puzzle piece with the west coast of Africa is very close to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge has the same type of beach sand as the east coast of North America Which observation about the Mid-Atlantic Ridge region provides the best evidence that the seafloor has been spreading for millions of years? Seafloor bedrock is younger near the ridge and older farther away. Several faults cut across the ridge and nearby seafloor. The ridge is the location of irregular volcanic eruptions. The bedrock of the ridge and nearby seafloor is igneous rock. The map below shows the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Points A through D are locations on the ocean floor. Line XY connects locations in North America and Africa.Samples of ocean-floor bedrock were collected at points A, B, C, and D. Which sequence shows the correct order of the age of the bedrock from oldestto youngest? D → C → B → A A → D → B → C C → B → D → A A → B → D → C The process that recycles the crust of the spreading ocean floor back inside the Earth is called- Seafloor Spreading Subduction Plate Tectonics Harry Hess discovered that magma was rising on the sea floor causing it spread. Layers of Earth Review Label the layers of Earth using the word bank. Remember, spelling counts!asthenospherecrustinner corelithospheremantleouter core crust asthenosphere mantle outer core inner core lithosphere The movement of tectonic plates is inferred by many scientists to be driven by - tidal motions in the hydrosphere density differences in the troposphere convection currents in the Mantel solidification in the lithosphere Base your answer on the diagram of Earth shown below. Letters B, C, and D represent layers of Earth. Letter Q represents a location on Earth’s surface.Which letter best represents Earth’s mantle? Q B C D Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics Matching seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges, plates are moving apart, forming new rock in the middle Pangaea the most recent supercontinent, the last time all the land on Earth was joined together Convection Currents the engine that drives the tectonic plates Subduction the process that recycles the crust of the spreading ocean floor back inside the Earth Continental Drift a theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth's surface.