29 Questions
What does the continental drift theory propose?
All continents were once a single landmass that later drifted apart.
Who was the key theorist behind the continental drift theory?
Alfred Wegener
What did Alfred Wegener refer to as the single supercontinent?
Pangea
What is a key factor leading to the drift of continents?
Movement of tectonic plates
What did some scientists believe contrary to Wegener's theory?
Continents were fixed and immovable.
What happens when tectonic plates move?
Landmasses or continents drift and move apart.
'The continental drift hypothesis refers to the theory where _______.'
'all of the continents were joined together in one large landmass prior to splitting apart'
When did Alfred Wegener first propose the theory of continental drift?
1912
In which region were fossils of the Lystrosaurus found to support Alfred Wegener's theory?
Antarctica and Africa
Where was Alfred Wegener a professor of meteorology and geophysics?
University of Graz
What type of evidence supported Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift?
Fossils, climate information, and rock clues
Which continent was not mentioned as having matching 'puzzle piece' coastlines according to the text?
Asia
What was Alfred Wegener's academic field before becoming interested in paleo-climatology?
Astronomy
In which decade was Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift finally accepted?
1960s
What is the main cause of the shift in the positions of continents according to the continental drift theory?
The movement of tectonic plates
What did Alfred Wegener call the single supercontinent that he believed existed before the continents drifted apart?
Pangea
When did Alfred Wegener propose that Pangea split into smaller landmasses, forming the continents we know today?
250-200 million years ago
What was the main contention some scientists had against Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift?
They believed continents were stationary and could not shift
Which of the following correctly describes tectonic plates as mentioned in the text?
Massive slabs of rocks that move and cause continents to drift apart
What did some people believe about the north magnetic pole according to the text?
It was stationary and did not move
Why did some scientists disagree with Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift?
They thought continents were fixed in place
What was the primary reason why Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift was rejected by other scientists in the 1930s?
It lacked substantial evidence
Which of the following was NOT a piece of evidence that supported Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift?
Climate information from all continents
During which decade did Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift regain acceptance and become integrated into plate tectonic theories?
1960s
Why did Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift face skepticism from geologists and scientists?
It was considered impossible due to lack of supporting evidence
Which piece of evidence mentioned in the text is most directly related to the concept of Pangea being a single large landmass at one point in time?
Discovery of Lystrosaurus fossils in Antarctica and Africa
Which event in Alfred Wegener's life contributed significantly to his interest in paleo-climatology?
His research expedition to study polar air circulation in Greenland
Which region was NOT mentioned in the text as having evidence that supported Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift?
Asia
'Piece fitting' of which continents was described as visibly matching coastlines according to the text?
South America and Africa
Learn about the continental drift hypothesis which explains the movement of continents from one large landmass to their current positions. Explore how tectonic plates play a role in the shifting of continents.
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