GEOLOGY

EARTH SCIENCE

TECTONICS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
The early hypothesis of ____ was based on observations that suggested continents were once joined together. Later, the theory of ____ explained why large pieces of Earth’s surface move around and how many of Earth’s features form.
A
plate tectonics; continental drift
B
gravitational force; continental drift
C
continental drift; plate tectonics
D
plate tectonics; gravitational force
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologists thought continents moved over time. Today, the theory of continental drift has been replaced by the science of plate tectonics. The theory of continental drift is most associated with the scientist Alfred Wegener.

Detailed explanation-2: -Pangaea Wegener was convinced that all of Earth’s continents were once part of an enormous, single landmass called Pangaea. Wegener, trained as an astronomer, used biology, botany, and geology describe Pangaea and continental drift.

Detailed explanation-3: -In 1912, German scientist Alfred Wegener proposed a theory he called continental drift. According to Wegener’s theory, Earth’s continents once formed a single, giant landmass, which he called Pangaea. Over millions of years, Pangaea slowly broke apart, eventually forming the continents as they are today.

Detailed explanation-4: -Fossil Evidence One type of evidence that strongly supported the Theory of Continental Drift is the fossil record. Scientists have found fossils of similar types of plants and animals in rocks of similar age. These rocks were on the shores of different continents. This suggests that the continents were once joined.

Detailed explanation-5: -Continental drift is the hypothesis that the Earth’s continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have “drifted” across the ocean bed.

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