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What made Wegener believe the continents may have all been one unit?
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∙ 12y ago
Wegener noticed a striking similarity in the shapes of the continents, especially along their Coastlines. He also observed that identical plant and animal fossils were found on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, geological features such as mountain ranges and rock formations seemed to match up when continents were pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle.
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What made Alfred wegener think the continents move?
Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift in the early 20th century because he observed similar plant and animal fossils on continents that are now far apart, as well as matching geological formations and evidence of ancient climates that suggest the continents were once joined together and have since drifted apart.
How did wegner stummble upon the matching continents that formed pangaea?
Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of Pangaea by observing how certain continents seemed to fit together like puzzle pieces, noticing similarities in rock formations and fossils on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. This led him to suggest that the continents were once connected as a single landmass before drifting apart.
How many continents have been made?
There are currently seven continents on Earth: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, and South America.
What was the land mass that made up all the continents called?
The land mass that made up all the continents is called Pangaea. It was a supercontinent that existed millions of years ago before the continents drifted apart to their current positions.
Why does the earth have 7 continents?
The Earth's continents are a result of tectonic plate movements over millions of years, leading to the current configuration of seven main landmasses. These continents have been shaped by geological processes such as continental drift, volcanic activity, and erosion. The number of continents is a human-made concept based on how we divide and categorize the Earth's landmasses.
Why did Alfred Wegener get criticism?
1) Most scientists did not believe Wegener's theory and thought it was foolish.] Some critics thought the old theories of giant land bridges could explain the similarities among fossils in South America and Africa. Others argued that Wegener's theory did not explain the forces that would have been needed to move continents to such great distances. Wegener thought that the forces that moved the continents could be the same forces that made earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Why was Alfred wegener theory rejected in the early 1900s?
he had no proof how the continents drifted or what made them drift
What was one question that Alfred wegener could not answer?
One major question Alfred Wegener could not answer about his continental drift theory was how or what force made the continents move.
One of the first attempts to prove that all continents were combined into one landmass was made by who?
Alfred Wegener.
One of the first attempts to prove that all continents were combined into one landmass was made by whom?
Alfred Wegener.
Who was the person that that made a hypothesis of continental drift?
It was Alfred Wegener but other scientists did not believe him but he found evidence
How did Wegener's theory change after his death?
His theory stated that only continents move, we later found that plates are made of ocean pieces too, not just land masses.
What is one of the reasons Alfred Wegener believed Earth's continents once formed a single massive supercontinent?
Observations of a map of the continents hinted that the continents once fitted together. Later, he would discover fossil evidence to support his theory. But alas, he was unable to explain the mechanism by which the continents could move, and was soundly thrashed by geologists of his time. The discoveries leading to the science of plate tectonics were not made until the mid twentieth century.
Who came up with continental drift?
Alfred Wegner made the theory of continental drift and he proved his theory was right and he was right because back then the seven continents were were like one big continent until Wegner new that the continents were drifting apart. He had prove and his prove was that the seven continent were like a jigsaw puzzle, and that the remains of crocodiles and other rare animals were found in America and Africa. Although it has to be said it doesnt take a genius to note the continents were once joined judging by their shape, and that children have been noting this for years CHILDREN!
Why was Wegeners hypothesis rejected by most scientists of his day?
Wegener made a strong case for continental drift as you may know. E.g. similar rock strata on opposing continents, similar fossil types located in geographically distant regions, evidence of glaciation and the general jig-saw fit of the continents. He could not explain however how the continents moved, that is, what force was acting on them and causing them to drift. He suggested that a combination of centrifugal force from the Earth's rotation and gravitational forces from objects in space (similar to what causes tides) moved the continents. Calculations proved this to be impossible. Since he could not explain the mechanism because little about plate tectonics was known at the time, his ideas were not widely accepted in the scientific community.
How did wegner stummble upon the matching continents that formed pangaea?
Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of Pangaea by observing how certain continents seemed to fit together like puzzle pieces, noticing similarities in rock formations and fossils on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. This led him to suggest that the continents were once connected as a single landmass before drifting apart.
What obeservation led Alfred Wegener to develop a hypothesis of continental drift?
I believe his first observation was the way the continents of South America and Africa "fit" together like a jigsaw puzzle (although he was not the first to realize this). He also made note of fossil discoveries in Africa which corresponded to those in South America. Finally, he began his own research which actually alligned rock formation/componants from one side of the Atlantic with the other.
