Is the theory of plate techtonics and continental drift the same?

Answer 1

Continental drift theory was proposed before the discovery of the mid-oceanic ridge, when it was hypothesized that the continents were actually plowing through the oceans. This theory was an attempt to explain the commonality of fossils on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and the observation on maps of the Earth that the North American and South American continents appeared to have been pulled apart from Europe and Africa. With the discovery of the mid-oceanic ridge, where new crustal plate is being created, and subduction zones, where plates are being destroyed, plate tectonic theory was born; that the crust of the earth is divided into many segments that are in constant motion, that the oceanic crust is constantly being recycled--all driven by heat from the Earth's interior. Plate tectonics is now nearly universally accepted as scientific fact, yet questions remain to be answered on some of the mechanisms of the process.

Answer 2

Continental Drift is the old name for Plate Tectonics.

When Continental Drift was first postulated there was not a mechanism found which would make it work. It was only when the mid-oceanic ridges and associated "plates" were discovered that a mechanism was found to move the continents, hence Plate Tectonics. Also continents do not "drift", they move in a pattern depending on what is happening at the plate edges.

Answer 3

No, the Plate tectonics theory supports the convection currents as the reason for the plates to be moving, while the continental drift has no mention of it. The Continental Drift theory also states that only the continents (landmass) moved.

They both similarly state that there was the giant supercontinent of Pangea

Answer 4

it is where the mantle under neath the earths crust moves in a motion and moves the plates at the same

Answer 5

each plate slowly drifts away and creates pangea and mysterious plate tectonics flow through the earths athenosphere