When we look at plate tectonics, we see many clues that show how our Earth is always changing. Here are some important points to think about:
Fossil Locations: Fossils of the same animal, like the Mesosaurus, have been found on different continents, like South America and Africa. This makes us think these continents used to be connected.
Mountain Ranges: The Appalachian Mountains in North America line up with the Caledonian Mountains in Scotland. This suggests they used to be part of the same mountain range before they drifted apart.
Coastline Shapes: The shapes of the coastlines of Africa and South America look like they fit together, just like pieces of a puzzle. This shows they were once joined.
New Ocean Floor: At mid-ocean ridges, we find that new ocean floor is created, which pushes continents away from each other.
Earthquake and Volcano Patterns: The places where earthquakes and volcanoes happen match up closely with the edges of tectonic plates. This shows how these plates affect the Earth's surface.
All these pieces of evidence together help us understand and support the idea of plate tectonics!
When we look at plate tectonics, we see many clues that show how our Earth is always changing. Here are some important points to think about:
Fossil Locations: Fossils of the same animal, like the Mesosaurus, have been found on different continents, like South America and Africa. This makes us think these continents used to be connected.
Mountain Ranges: The Appalachian Mountains in North America line up with the Caledonian Mountains in Scotland. This suggests they used to be part of the same mountain range before they drifted apart.
Coastline Shapes: The shapes of the coastlines of Africa and South America look like they fit together, just like pieces of a puzzle. This shows they were once joined.
New Ocean Floor: At mid-ocean ridges, we find that new ocean floor is created, which pushes continents away from each other.
Earthquake and Volcano Patterns: The places where earthquakes and volcanoes happen match up closely with the edges of tectonic plates. This shows how these plates affect the Earth's surface.
All these pieces of evidence together help us understand and support the idea of plate tectonics!