The idea of continental drift has changed a lot since it first came up in the early 1900s.
It all started with a scientist named Alfred Wegener in 1912. He suggested that all the continents were once part of one big landmass called "Pangaea." Over time, this land broke apart and drifted to where it is now.
Wegener showed some evidence for his idea, like how the coastlines of different continents fit together like puzzle pieces. He also noted that similar fossils were found on different continents. However, he didn’t explain how the continents were able to move.
How the Idea Grew:
Finding the Mechanism (1960s): In the 1960s, scientists discovered plate tectonics. They learned that the Earth’s surface is made up of huge pieces called tectonic plates. These plates float on a softer layer below them. The movement of these plates, caused by hot material rising and falling inside the Earth, helped explain how continents drift.
Seafloor Spreading: In the mid-20th century, researchers found out that new ocean floor is created at mid-ocean ridges. As new crust forms, it pushes old crust away, which makes oceans wider. This showed how continents move apart over a long period.
Collecting More Evidence: With new technology like satellite GPS and sonar, scientists can now track how the tectonic plates move. They usually move just a few centimeters each year, but this real-time data gives us clear proof of continental drift.
In short, what started as Wegener's idea has grown into a complete theory called plate tectonics. This modern theory combines information from different fields of science to help us understand how the Earth's surface changes over millions of years.
The idea of continental drift has changed a lot since it first came up in the early 1900s.
It all started with a scientist named Alfred Wegener in 1912. He suggested that all the continents were once part of one big landmass called "Pangaea." Over time, this land broke apart and drifted to where it is now.
Wegener showed some evidence for his idea, like how the coastlines of different continents fit together like puzzle pieces. He also noted that similar fossils were found on different continents. However, he didn’t explain how the continents were able to move.
How the Idea Grew:
Finding the Mechanism (1960s): In the 1960s, scientists discovered plate tectonics. They learned that the Earth’s surface is made up of huge pieces called tectonic plates. These plates float on a softer layer below them. The movement of these plates, caused by hot material rising and falling inside the Earth, helped explain how continents drift.
Seafloor Spreading: In the mid-20th century, researchers found out that new ocean floor is created at mid-ocean ridges. As new crust forms, it pushes old crust away, which makes oceans wider. This showed how continents move apart over a long period.
Collecting More Evidence: With new technology like satellite GPS and sonar, scientists can now track how the tectonic plates move. They usually move just a few centimeters each year, but this real-time data gives us clear proof of continental drift.
In short, what started as Wegener's idea has grown into a complete theory called plate tectonics. This modern theory combines information from different fields of science to help us understand how the Earth's surface changes over millions of years.