The Theory Of Continental Drift

Question 1

How old do scientists believe the earth to be?

Answer 1

4 500 000 000

Question 2

Who came up with the theory of pangaea?

Answer 2

Alfred Wegener

Question 3

In which year did Alfred Wagner propose the theory of pangaea?

Answer 3

1912

Question 4

What does pangaea mean?

Answer 4

All earth.

Question 5

What caused the continental drift?

Answer 5

Movements beneath the surface of the earth.

Question 6

What evidence suggest that the continents are still drifting apart today?

Answer 6

1. The Atlantic ocean is widening by about one millimeter a week.
2. North america is moving away from europe at a rate of 2 to 3 centimeters a year.

Question 7

Give evidence to support Wagner's theory of continental drift.

Answer 7

1. Physical evidence: If the continents were to be placed together they would just about fit into each other.
2. Fossil evidence: Identical fossils that date back 250 million years were found in continents which were linked.
3. Rock and geological evidence: identical rock and mountain structures have been found on either side of the ocean, suggesting that the continents were connected.
4. Coal has been found in cold regions and glacial evidence has been found in warm regions.

Question 8

What were the two mainland masses that pangaea broke into?

Answer 8

Ganwanaland in the south: consisted of Africa, South America, India and Australia.
Louissia in the north: consisted of North America, Europe, most of Asia and Greenland.