Continental Drift Theory: Understanding Earth's Surface

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What is the name of the single landmass that existed around 250 million years ago according to the Continental Drift Theory?

Eurasia

Gondwanaland

Pangaea (correct)

Laurasia

Who proposed 'The Continental Drift Theory' and in which year?

Nikola Tesla in 1943

Isaac Newton in 1687

Charles Darwin in 1859

Alfred Wegener in 1912 (correct)

What is the name of the single ocean that surrounded Pangaea according to the Continental Drift Theory?

Panthalassa (correct)

Pacific Ocean

Indian Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Which of the following continents was not part of Gondwanaland according to the Continental Drift Theory?

North America Signup and view all the answers

What evidence supports the Continental Drift Theory?

The corresponding edges of the continents fit together Signup and view all the answers

Approximately how long ago did Pangaea begin to split according to the Continental Drift Theory?

$250$ million years ago Signup and view all the answers

What is the driving force behind the plate movement?

Heat from the core Signup and view all the answers

Which plate boundary is also called an accreting plate margin?

Divergent boundary Signup and view all the answers

What type of boundary forms rift valleys, like the African Rift Valley in East Africa?

Divergent boundary Signup and view all the answers

Between which two types of plates can subduction occur?

Between two oceanic plates and between two continental plates Signup and view all the answers

The Mariana Trench, the deepest trench in the world, is formed due to the subduction of which plate?

Pacific Plate under Eurasian Plate Signup and view all the answers

Which boundary is marked by an oceanic ridge (divergent boundary) running in a roughly W-E direction?

Indian-Antarctic Plate boundary Signup and view all the answers

What event occurred about 40 - 50 million years ago due to the collision of the Indian Plate with Asia?

Formation of the Himalayas Signup and view all the answers

What was the location of the Indian subcontinent about 140 million years ago?

$50°S$ latitude Signup and view all the answers

What did Gondwana break off into, leading to the opening of the Indian Ocean?

$\text{Africa, Australia, Antarctica}$ Signup and view all the answers

What type of plate boundary separates the North American plate and Pacific plates in California?

$\text{Transform boundary}$ Signup and view all the answers

What geological feature is formed due to convergent boundaries?

Fold mountains Signup and view all the answers

Which type of plate movement causes the formation of folds, faults, earthquakes, and volcanoes?

All types of plate movements Signup and view all the answers

What is the main evidence that supports the theory of continental drift?

The matching of ancient rocks from Brazil’s coast with those from western Africa Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for the sedimentary rock formed out of deposits of glaciers?

Tillite Signup and view all the answers

What theory was proposed by Hess in 1961?

Sea Floor Spreading Signup and view all the answers

What is the word 'tectonic' derived from in the context of 'plate tectonics'?

Builders Signup and view all the answers

What force is attributed to the drifting of continents according to Wegener?

Polar-fleeing force Signup and view all the answers

What was proposed by Arthur Holmes in an attempt to provide an explanation for the force causing continental drift?

Convectional Current theory Signup and view all the answers

What type of sediments indicate remarkably similar histories for different landmasses?

Gondwana sediments Signup and view all the answers

Which theory discarded the continental drift theory based on the operation of convectional currents in the mantle portion?

'Convectional Current' theory Signup and view all the answers

What led Alfred Wegener to propose the theory of continental drift?

The matching of ancient rocks from Brazil’s coast with those from western Africa. Signup and view all the answers

What are responsible for plate movement according to the theory of plate tectonics?

Convectional currents and volcanic eruptions at oceanic ridges. Signup and view all the answers

What type of sediments did Arthur Holmes use as evidence to explain his convectional current theory?

Gondwana sediments. Signup and view all the answers

What did post World War Ⅱ expeditions to map the oceanic floor reveal?

The presence of volcanic activity at the oceanic ridges. Signup and view all the answers