The theory of plate tectonics Flashcards
1
Q
What did people start to notice in the 17th century?
A
South America and Africa looked like they fit together, like pieces of a jigsaw
2
Q
What did Alfred Wegener propose in 1912?
A
The theory of continental drift
3
Q
What was the theory of continental drift?
A
That all the continents were once joined as one supercontinent (Pangaea) which drifted apart
4
Q
What did Wegener base his theory on?
A
Geological evidence and fossil records, but he couldn’t explain how the continents moved
5
Q
What provided evidence that supported continental drift in the 1950s?
A
Palaeomagnetism
6
Q
What discovery provided the mechanism for continental drift in the 1960s?
A
Sea floor spreading
7
Q
What did the continental drift theory develop into?
A
The theory of plate tectonics
