a continental theory
Alfred Wegener.
continental drift :D
Scientists believe that the continents were once one big landmass due to evidence such as matching rock formations, similar fossils and ancient climate indicators found across different continents. This concept, known as continental drift, was further supported by the discovery of mid-ocean ridges and the theory of plate tectonics.
They are spread apart now because before the were one big landmass.
We will just go to what could be thought: 7 continents: - North America -South America -Antarctica -Africa -Europe -Asia -Australia Here the "American landmass" is counted as 2 and the "European-Asian landmass" is counted as 2 landmasses. 6 continents: - North America -South America -Antarctica -Africa -Eurasia -Australia Here the "European-Asian landmass" is counted as 1 landmass. Alternate to the 6 continents version is the one where Europe and Asia are separated and the "American landmass" is counted as 1 landmass. The American "combined" landmass is separated by a human made waterway made through a narrow strip of land. 5 continents: - America -Antarctica -Africa -Eurasia -Australia Here the "European-Asian landmass" and the "American landmass" are both counted as 1 big land mass. 4 continents: -America -Antarctica -Afro-Eurasia -Australia Here the "African-Eurasian" landmass is counted as 1. With the same argument (see 6 continents) used to combine the "American" landmass. Apparently there is another map that says all the Landmasses are so narrowly connected they could be considered as 1, the 'dymaxion map'. Well, we have given you options to choose from, so you decide which one is right.
A big landmass is called a continent.
The idea that all continents were once part of one big landmass is known as continental drift. This theory suggests that over millions of years, the continents have moved apart due to the shifting of tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface.
The continents of the world used to all be one big supercontinent called Pangaea
If you are referring to Pangea, the theorized land mass that all continents were once part of, they know this because of the continents' puzzle like features, because things most likely exploded apart, causing the seemingly random shapes of the shores of the continents.
Alfred Wegener believed in the theory of continental drift because he saw evidence like the fit of the continents, similarities in rock formations and fossils, and matching geological features on different continents. He proposed that these observations supported the idea that the continents were once connected as one supercontinent, which he named Pangaea.
We will just go to what could be thought:7 continents:North AmericaSouth AmericaAntarcticaAfricaEuropeAsiaAustraliaHere the "American landmass" is counted as 2 and the "European-Asian landmass" is counted as 2 landmasses.6 continents:North AmericaSouth AmericaAntarcticaAfricaEurasiaAustraliaHere the "European-Asian landmass" is counted as 1 landmass.Alternate to the 6 continents version is the one where Europe and Asia are separated and the "American landmass" is counted as 1 landmass.The American "combined" landmass is separated by a human made waterway made through a narrow strip of land.5 continents:AmericaAntarcticaAfricaEurasiaAustraliaHere the "European-Asian landmass" and the "American landmass" are both counted as 1 big land mass.4 continents:AmericaAntarcticaAfro-EurasiaAustraliaHere the "African-Eurasian" landmass is counted as 1. With the same argument (see 6 continents) used to combine the "American" landmass.Apparently there is another map that says all the Landmasses are so narrowly connected they could be considered as 1, the 'dymaxion map'.Well, we have given you options to choose from, so you decide which one is right
Alfred's hypothesis was that all the continents was a big land mass which he called Pangaea because if you see a world map it is like a jigsaw puzzle and other evidence is that some animal fossils were on other continents and also the same rock range was found on different continents. This hypothesis is known as continental drift.