Continental Drift Flashcards
What’s Pangea?
Supercontinent that existed 200-300 million years ago.
What’s continental drift?
300 million years ago all of Earth’s land masses which were in constant motion, collided to form Pangaea. 200 million years ago it split apart.
Who’s Alfred Wagner?
A German scientist who believed in the continental drift theory.
Why did no one believe Wagner?
There was no force great enough to prove his theory. After, they discovered plate tectonics.
What were Wagner’s three proofs?
- Appalachians were similar in different countries.
- Similar/same fossils in different countries.
- Looked like a jigsaw puzzle.
What are convection currents?
Circular movement in a gas or liquid created by uneven heating.
What’s a seismologist?
Scientists who study earthquakes.
How many earthquakes a year can be felt?
30,000
What are plate tectonics?
The Earth’s outer shell consists of plates that move, causing earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and the formation of the new crust.
