10 Questions
What theory did Alfred Wegener develop?
Continental drift
When did Alfred Wegener pass away?
1930
What was the key clue in solving 'The Mystery of the Drifting Continents'?
Submerged mountain range
What led to a solution for 'The Mystery of the Drifting Continents'?
New evidence from investigations
What led to a heightened interest in mapping the ocean floor after World War II?
Increased use of submarines in battle
What is the main idea of the passage?
The unraveling of 'The Mystery of the Drifting Continents' through various clues.
What did the discovery of magnetic reversals on the ocean floor lead to?
The idea of seafloor spreading and the movement of lithosphere on the surface of the earth.
What was the significance of finding cracks in the earth's crust, or lithosphere, as mentioned in the passage?
It revealed that both continental and oceanic crust were parts of the same piece of crust named plates.
What was the first physical evidence that the lithosphere actually moved on the surface of the earth?
The observation of magma leaking out of ocean floor cracks.
What did scientists realize after solving 'The Mystery of the Drifting Continents'?
The plates were what was moving, and the continents rode along as part of the whole plate together.
Study Notes
Alfred Wegener's Contribution
- Developed the theory of Continental Drift
Timeline
- Alfred Wegener passed away in 1930
Solving the Mystery of the Drifting Continents
- Key clue: Fit of the continents, like a jigsaw puzzle
- Solution: Seafloor spreading, where new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges
Ocean Floor Mapping
- Heightened interest after World War II due to the development of new technologies, such as sonar and submarines
Main Idea
- The passage discusses the solving of the mystery of the drifting continents, from Wegener's theory to the discovery of seafloor spreading
Seafloor Discoveries
- Discovery of magnetic reversals on the ocean floor led to the understanding of plate tectonics
- Finding cracks in the earth's crust, or lithosphere, provided evidence for plate movement
Physical Evidence
- The first physical evidence that the lithosphere actually moved on the surface of the earth was the discovery of mid-ocean ridges
Scientific Realization
- After solving the mystery, scientists realized that the Earth's surface is dynamic, with moving plates shaping our planet
Learn about Alfred Wegener and his theory of continental drift, which was initially dismissed but later gained credibility with new evidence and mechanisms for continental movement. Explore how geologic investigators have contributed to the understanding of the earth's surface.
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