Question

In 1912, Alfred Wegener proposed his continental drift theory and was widely rejected. Imagine if you had to assist Wegener in proving that we live on huge plates that are constantly in motion. Luckily, you also have provided resources such as videos and articles to compile your evidence and help Wegener. Present your research using an interactive PowerPoint or Storyboard while answering the below questions.

1. What does the theory of plate tectonics state?
2. What was Pangaea?
3. Why was Wegener's original idea about continental drift referred to as intuition and not science?
4. What did Wegener find that he believed was evidence to support his theory?

Evidence for plate tectonics
Research the evidence that scientists used to prove the theory that continents move.
Research rock formation evidence and give examples.
Research fossils evidence
o Research fossil evidence of the following organisms: Glossopteris, Mesosaurus, Cynognathus and Lystrosaurus. Summarize the type of organisms, their habitat and climate conditions.
5. Research evidence from glaciers and coal deposits.

Answer 1

1. The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that move and interact with each other. These plates are made up of the Earth's crust and the upper part of the mantle, and they move due to the convection currents in the mantle.

2. Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed about 300 million years ago. It was made up of all the continents that we know today, and it began to break apart about 200 million years ago.

3. Wegener's original idea about continental drift was referred to as intuition and not science because he did not have a mechanism to explain how the continents moved. Additionally, he did not have enough evidence to support his theory.

4. Wegener found several pieces of evidence that he believed supported his theory of continental drift. He noticed that the coastlines of South America and Africa fit together like puzzle pieces, and he also found similar rock formations and fossils on both continents.

Evidence for plate tectonics:

Rock formation evidence: Scientists have found similar rock formations on different continents that were once connected. For example, the Appalachian Mountains in North America and the Caledonian Mountains in Europe have similar rock formations.

Fossil evidence: Scientists have found fossils of the same species on different continents that were once connected. For example, the Glossopteris plant was found in South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica. This suggests that these continents were once connected and had similar climates.

Glossopteris: Glossopteris was a plant that lived about 250 million years ago. It was found on several continents that were once connected, including South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica. This suggests that these continents were once connected and had similar climates.

Mesosaurus: Mesosaurus was a freshwater reptile that lived about 300 million years ago. Its fossils have been found in South America and Africa, which suggests that these continents were once connected and had similar habitats.

Cynognathus: Cynognathus was a carnivorous mammal-like reptile that lived about 250 million years ago. Its fossils have been found in South America, Africa, and Antarctica, which suggests that these continents were once connected and had similar habitats.

Lystrosaurus: Lystrosaurus was a herbivorous mammal-like reptile that lived about 250 million years ago. Its fossils have been found in South America, Africa, India, and Antarctica, which suggests that these continents were once connected and had similar habitats.

Glacier and coal deposit evidence: Scientists have found evidence of glaciers and coal deposits in areas that are now near the equator. This suggests that these areas were once located near the poles and have moved due to plate tectonics. Additionally, coal deposits found in Antarctica suggest that it was once located in a warmer climate.

Answer 2

The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large plates that are in constant motion. Pangaea was the supercontinent that existed around 200 million years ago. Wegener's original idea about continental drift was referred to as intuition because he didn't have a well-developed hypothesis to explain the movement of the continents.

What does the theory of plate tectonics state?

The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large plates that are in constant motion. These plates float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere below and interact with each other at plate boundaries. The movement of the plates is driven by convection currents in the mantle.

What was Pangaea?

Pangaea was the name given to the supercontinent that existed around 200 million years ago. It was formed as a result of the movement of the tectonic plates, which brought all the continents together into a single landmass.

Why was Wegener's original idea about continental drift referred to as intuition and not science?

Wegener's original idea about continental drift was referred to as intuition rather than science because he didn't have a well-developed hypothesis to explain what was causing the continents to drift. He had observed evidence that suggested the continents had moved, but he couldn't provide a mechanism or explain how it was happening.

What did Wegener find that he believed was evidence to support his theory?

Wegener found several pieces of evidence to support his theory of continental drift. Firstly, he noticed that the continents looked like they fit together like pieces of a puzzle. He also found matching fossils on continents that were separated by oceans, indicating that these continents were once connected. Additionally, he found matching mountain ranges on continents that were separated by oceans. Lastly, he discovered paleoclimate evidence that suggested different continents had different climate conditions and were once located in different regions of the Earth.

Evidence for plate tectonics

Rock Formation Evidence

Rock formation evidence supports the theory of plate tectonics by showing that similar rock types and formations can be found on different continents that were once connected. For example, the Appalachian Mountains in North America and the Caledonian Mountains in Europe are both formed from similar geological processes and rock types

Fossil Evidence

Fossils found on different continents provide additional evidence for plate tectonics. For instance, fossils of the Glossopteris plant have been found on the southern continents of South America, Africa, Australia, India, and Antarctica. These fossils indicate that these continents were once part of a single landmass.

Evidence from glaciers and coal deposits

Glacial striations and till deposits indicate the past presence of glaciers in regions that are now located far from the polar regions. This suggests that these regions were once located closer to the poles when they were part of a larger landmass. Similarly, the distribution of coal deposits across different continents provides evidence for plate tectonics. Coal deposits in Antarctica, for example, suggest that this continent was once located in a more temperate climate.