It was not until 1912 that the idea of moving continents was seriously considered as a fullblown scientific theory called. Plate tectonics is the theory that explains how large pieces of the earths outermost layer, called tectonic plates, move and change shape. Plate tectonics wikipedia, the free encyclopedia harvard university. Continental drift and plate tectonics from the time maps of the globe became available, people wondered about the arrangement of the continents and oceans. Plate tectonicscontinental drift and mountain building find, read and cite all the research you. Continental drift and plate tectonics full version. Pangea continent map continental drift supercontinent. A free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. The lithosphere is divided into moving segments that change. What are the 4 pieces of evidence for continental drift.
Plate tectonic theory arose out of the hypothesis of continental drift. Noahs flood and catastrophic plate tectonics from pangea to today duration. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge. What is not true about the theory of plate tectonics. Some of the worksheets below are tectonic plates worksheets, predicting tectonic activity, definition of plate composition, plate movement, types of plate boundary, continentcontinent collision, handson activities, with colorful diagrams along with questions and answers at. This approach is meant to highlight the historical development of the theory of plate tectonics. Alfred wegener was the first to offer a comprehensive theory about continental drift but failed to provide a feasible explanation about how continents actually. Continental drift theory alfred wegener, 1922 plate tectonics breakup of pangea. Continental drift and plate tectonics full version pdfbookslib. Contractional theory, continental drift and plate tectonics. Frisch and meschede and blakey answer all these questions and more through the presentation and explanation of the geodynamic processes upon which the theory of continental drift is based and which have led to the concept of plate tectonics. The contribution of hess hess measured the oceans to the deepest points to date, 10. Difference between continental drift and plate tectonics. Continental drift and plate tectonics visavis earths expansion.
Look at the diagram under the continental continental information. Fun hands on activities, notes and critical thinking to build students understanding about plate tectonics, earths layers, and plate boundaries, and continental drift. Plate tectonics the earths crust is divided into plates which are moved in various directions. Continental drift, seafloor spreading and plate tectonics. Plate tectonics is a theory developed in the late 1960s, to explain how the outer layers of the. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. The presentation about plate tectonics is divided into 3 separate discussions. The book is aimed at the interested nonscientist, butwill be valuable reading for alevel science and.
Lithosphere is divided into plates that slide around on top of the slowly moving mesosphere tectonic plates it occurred after the breakup of pangaea, and since then the continents have drifted apart the pictures show continental drift theory from 225 million years to present. Scientists had determined that the forces he claimed were responsible for the continental drift were in fact not strong enough to do so. Plate tectonics describes the distribution and motion of the plates. Each type of interaction causes a characteristic set of earth structures or tectonic features. Pangea pangaea continent maps illustrations transformation of continents plate tectonics continental drift permian triassic jurassic cretaceous present according to the continental drift theory, the supercontinent pangaea began to break up about million years ago, eventually fragmenting into the continents as we know them today. So whats the difference between continental drift and plate tectonics. Continental drift worksheets teachers pay teachers. From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia plate tectonics from greek, tekton builder or mason describes the large scale motions of earths lithosphere. Tuzo wilson offered a fundamental reinterpretation of wegeners continental drift theory and became the first person to use the term plates to describe the division and pattern of relative movement between different regions of the earths surface i. Pdf palaeogeography is the cartographic representation of the past distribution of geographic features such as deep oceans. The continental drift theory states that the continents were once parts of a supercontinent called pangea. Since the development of the theory, geologists have had to reexamine almost every. The study of the origin and arrangement of earth surface including mountain belts, continents, and earthquake belts. In 1967, mckenzie and parker suggested the theory of plate tectonics.
Continental drift and plate tectonics f you look closely at a world map, you might notice something about the coastlines of south america and africa. Continental drift and plate tectonics full versionbook description. The theory has caused a revolution in the way we think about the earth. Pdf a historical account of how continental drift and plate tectonics. In the early 1900s, alfred wegener proposed the idea of continental drift. However, history has proven that most theories that are groundbreaking revelations seem outlandish in their initial stages. The theory of plate tectonics was proposed in 1960s based on the theory of continental drift. Fossils, puzzle fit, glacial grooves, rock strata, mountain belts. His ideas centered around continents moving across the face of the earth. Proposed by german meteorologist alfred wegener in 1912 all continents were once. But when i talk to them in my office about plate tectonics, minerals, volcanoes, etc. In addition, a variant spelling of pangaea is pangea. Reducing the pre plate tectonic mode to a single behavioural regime.
The idea was not quite correct compared to the plate tectonics theory of today but his thinking was on the proper track. Explain the process that causes the earths tectonic plates to move. The difference between continental drift and plate. In addition to accounting for earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and oceanic ridges as well as the geographic fit of continental margins, plate tectonics and continental drift have explained many curious facts. Having subsumed earliertheories of continental drift and seafloor spreading, plate tectonics itself is now evolving into a truly global theory of planetary circulation. The lithosphere is broken up into what are called tectonic plates in the. Continental drift is a theory first presented by abraham ortelius abraham ortels in 1596. Continental drift and plate tectonics are two theories explaining the geological evolution of the earth, specifically its crust. What happens when two continents meet headon, meet headon and neither is subducted. Most of the earth is earthquake free with earthquakes concentrated in narrow zones that outline the plate boundaries. Wegeners continental drift argument with claim evidence. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earths lithosphere is broken into distinct plates which are. Watch short video lessons in this chapter to get reacquainted with plate tectonics as you study for the ceoe middle level science assessment.
The structure of the earth, plate tectonics and landforms. Ppt continental drift and plate tectonics powerpoint. Mineral deposits, continental drift, and plate tectonics. Apart from things like mountain ranges, fracture zones, volcanic arcs and midocean ridges. Plate tectonics concept the earth 1 beneath our feet is not dead.
Plate tectonics it was from the continental drift theory, convection current theory and the theory of seafloor spreading, the theory of plate tectonics was formulated. The concept was independently developed by german geologist alfred wegener in 1912. Large pieces of the lithosphere that float on the asthenosphere are called. Continental drift wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Continental drift timeline activity sheet continental.
Continental drift and plate tectonics a brief history what is continental drift. What are four pieces of evidence for continental drift. According to the theory of continental drift, the world was made up of a single continent through most of geologic time. What are the theories of continental drift and plate tectonics. Continental drift plates in the crust of the earth, according to the plate tectonics theory from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia continental drift is the movement of the earths continents relative to each other.
Hypotheses like continental drift, plate tectonics or earths expansion should not. Geophysicist jack oliver is credited with providing seismologic evidence supporting plate tectonics which encompassed and superseded continental drift with the article seismology and the new global tectonics, published in 1968, using data collected from seismologic stations, including those he set up in the south pacific. Convection current theory cct convection current theory forms the basis of sfst and pt. This plate motion causes them to collide, pull apart, or scrape against each other.
What one large continent was named by alfred wegner. Plate tectonics the tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century. Plate tectonics theory the upper most mantle, along with overlying crust, behaves as a strong, rigid layer. The difference between continental drift and plate tectonic theory. Discuss here in your discussion, you need to bring out the reasons why continental drift theory faced resistance and the reasons why plate tectonics provides a better explanation for the earths structure. Plate tectonics west virginia geological and economic survey.
Plate tectonics pt plate tectonics is the movement of lithospheric plates relative to each other. Low prep and no prep activities covering all you need for your plate tectonics unit including. Also check out our bestselling, standardsbased plate tectonics test. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. What physical evidence is there to support the theory of. Plate tectonics is the grand, unifying theory of earth sciences, combining the concepts of continental drift and seafloor spreading into one holistic theory that explains many of the major structural features of the earths surface. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movement of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time.
Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics plate tectonics is a theory developed in the late 1960s, to explain how the outer layers of the earth move and deform. However, wegeners theory of continental drift, which was published in 1915 and is regarded by many as the direct precursor of modern plate tectonics, contributed astonishingly little to the understanding of mountain building processes. Continental drift and seafloor spreading he the of. Oreo cookies and plate tectonics worksheet answers. Describe the type of plate boundary that forms mountains and islands. Who proposed the theory and what evidence did he provide to prove his theory. The book is aimed at the interested nonscientist, butwill be valuable reading for alevel science and geography students and firstyear undergraduates.
He discovered hundreds of flattopped mountains on the pacific floor. Which of the following provides evidence for alfred wegners continental drift theory. Chapter 1 from continental drift to plate tectonics naomi oreskes since the l6th century, cartographers have noticed the jigsawpuzzle fit of the continental edges. What mountain range demonstrates one of the most visible and spectacular consequences of plate tectonics.
The theory encompasses the older concepts of continental drift, developed. That continent eventually separated and drifted apart, forming into the seven. Plate tectonics and continental drift worksheet answers. Introduction explain continental drift theory along with the person who gave this theory.
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