Theory of Continental Drift
Name: ____________________
Click on the following link: http://www.scientus.org/Wegener-Continental-Drift.html
1. What does the Theory of Continental Drift state?
2. Who is the scientist that proposed the Theory of Continental Drift?
3. What was the scientific communities reaction to this theory?
4. Why did the scientific community react this way?
Go to the following web page and read about Pangaea: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/historical.html
1. The Continental Drift Theory depends on a super continent called Pangaea. What is Pangaea?
2. How long ago did Pangaea begin to break up?
3. Looking at the vertical (longitude) lines, two continents are moving faster than the rest. Which two continents appear to be moving the most?
N
W
N
E
W
S
Click on the following link: http://www.livescience.com/37529-continental-drift.html
1. What major problem existed with Wegener’s theory?
2. What proposed theory attempts to solve this problem?
E
S
3. Using the plate boundary map to the right, for
each numbered plate (1-7) draw an arrow
showing the direction of movement from
Pangaea until present day.
4. If North and South America continue to move in
the direction you drew, what will happen to the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?
4
1
3
7
Click on the following link: http://www.estauk.net/jesei/platerid/plates.htm
1. In a different color arrow, draw how scientists
currently believe the earth’s plates are moving
(just draw arrows for the 7 major plates).
2. Which plates are still moving the same as what
you drew in question #3 above?
3. Which plates are moving differently from what
you drew in question #3 above?
2
5
6