Continental Drift

Front

What is Continental Drift?

Back

The theory that continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together as a single landmass.

Front

What was Pangea?

Back

A supercontinent where all Earth's land masses were joined together approximately 335 million years ago.

Front

What evidence supports the theory of Continental Drift?

Back

Fossil evidence, matching rock structures, and the fit of continental coastlines.

Front

What is the significance of Mesosaurus fossils in understanding Continental Drift?

Back

Mesosaurus fossils found on multiple continents suggest that these continents were once connected, as the animal could not swim across oceans.

Front

How do matching rock structures provide evidence for Continental Drift?

Back

Similar rock formations and mountain ranges on different continents indicate that those continents were once part of the same landmass.

Front

What role do fossils play in supporting the theory of Continental Drift?

Back

Fossils of the same species found on different continents suggest that those continents were once joined.

Front

What is the concept of 'fit' in Continental Drift?

Back

The idea that continents can fit together like puzzle pieces, supporting the notion that they were once connected.

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact, causing continental drift.

Front

What is the difference between Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics?

Back

Continental Drift is the theory that continents move, while Plate Tectonics explains the movement of the Earth's plates and the forces behind it.

Front

What is a supercontinent?

Back

A large landmass that contains multiple continents, such as Pangea.