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Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift Basics
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Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift Basics
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift Basics
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1
Question
What is a Divergent Boundary in plate tectonics?
Answer
Boundary where tectonic plates move apart.
2
Question
What is a Convergent Boundary?
Answer
Boundary where tectonic plates collide.
3
Question
Which theory is associated with Alfred Wegener?
Answer
Continental drift theory.
4
Question
What observations supported continental drift?
Answer
Coastlines of South America and Africa; plant/animal fossils; rock layer sequences.
5
Question
Who proposed the continental drift theory?
Answer
Alfred Wegener.
6
Question
Which scientists contributed to continental drift ideas besides Wegener?
Answer
Eduard Suess and Alexander du Toit.
7
Question
What is the modern plate tectonic theory?
Answer
Theory describing movement of lithospheric plates and seafloor spreading.
8
Question
What observation links the coastlines of distant continents?
Answer
Puzzle-like fit of coastlines (e.g., South America and Africa).
9
Question
What type of evidence do fossils provide for continental drift?
Answer
Similar fossils found on now-distant landmasses indicate past connection.
10
Question
What is seafloor spreading?
Answer
New oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges and moves outward.
11
Question
What is Eduard Suess known for in plate tectonics?
Answer
Contribution to ideas about connected ancient landmasses.
12
Question
What is Alexander du Toit known for in this context?
Answer
Advancing continental drift concepts in southern Africa.
13
Question
What does a divergent boundary create at the surface?
Answer
Ridges and new ocean floor as plates move apart.
14
Question
What geological features are typical at convergent boundaries?
Answer
Mountain ranges, trenches, volcanic activity.
15
Question
What is the primary mechanism driving plate movements in modern theory?
Answer
Convection in the mantle causing plate motion.
16
Question
How did Wegener explain similar fossils on separated continents?
Answer
Continents were once connected; species dispersed before separation.
17
Question
What is the significance of rock layer sequences in supporting drift?
Answer
Similar rock sequences across continents imply past connection.
18
Question
What type of boundary is associated with seafloor spreading?
Answer
Divergent boundary at mid-ocean ridges.
19
Question
Which two continents are classic examples used in continental drift discussion?
Answer
South America and Africa.
20
Question
What is the role of plate tectonics in explaining Earth's features?
Answer
Unifies mantle convection, seafloor spreading, and plate interactions.
21
Question
What is the key idea of the modern plate tectonics theory?
Answer
Earth's lithosphere is divided into moving plates.
22
Question
What physical evidence would you examine to test continental drift?
Answer
Fossil distribution, rock formations, coastlines, magnetic reversals.
23
Question
Why is the coastline fit considered supportive evidence?
Answer
Suggests former joint boundaries between continents.
24
Question
What do plant fossils across continents suggest about past geography?
Answer
Continents joined allowing species distribution.
25
Question
What is a mid-ocean ridge?
Answer
Undersea mountain range where new crust forms.
26
Question
What process forms mountains at convergent boundaries?
Answer
Collision and uplift of crust leading to orogeny.
27
Question
What is the Magmatic process at divergent boundaries?
Answer
Magma upwelling creates new crust as plates separate.