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One reason is because the Coastlines of land masses change over time. If you map the edges of the continental shelves, the fit is much better.

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Annabell Hickle

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Why would the present shape of the continents not fit perfectly into the shape of a supercontinents?

The present shape of the continents does not fit perfectly into the shape of a supercontinent because the Earth's tectonic plates are constantly moving. These movements are driven by processes like plate tectonics and convection currents in the mantle, causing the continents to drift apart, collide, and rearrange over millions of years. This results in the continents having different shapes and positions compared to when they were part of a single supercontinent like Pangaea.


What Two continents are similar in physical outlined shape?

Africa and South America are similar in physical outline shape. This resemblance is due to the way these continents used to fit together as part of the supercontinent Pangaea.


Why don't the present shapes of the continents fit perfectly into a super continent?

As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the Coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!


What are the continents after laurasia?

Laurasia broke into North America, Europe, and Asia.


Why do the present shape of the continents not fit perfectly together?

This question is based off of a theory of Pangea. If the theory were fact, then it could be due to the erosion of the beaches and island. Much like the colorado river and the grand canyon, constant water pushing and pulling away from a land mass changes it's shape.

Related Questions

Why would the present shape of the continents not fit perfectly into the shape of a supercontinents?

The present shape of the continents does not fit perfectly into the shape of a supercontinent because the Earth's tectonic plates are constantly moving. These movements are driven by processes like plate tectonics and convection currents in the mantle, causing the continents to drift apart, collide, and rearrange over millions of years. This results in the continents having different shapes and positions compared to when they were part of a single supercontinent like Pangaea.


What could possibly cause present day shape of the continents not fit perfectly into a large supercontinent?

Sea level changes, erosion, sedimentation, and uplift and subsidence of the surface can change the shapes of costlines. It has been dound that the present day continental shelves acutally fit together better than the coastlines. This makes sense, as when Pangaea rifted apart, the land immediately around the rifts would have dropped below sea level.


What Two continents are similar in physical outlined shape?

Africa and South America are similar in physical outline shape. This resemblance is due to the way these continents used to fit together as part of the supercontinent Pangaea.


Why don't the present shapes of the continents fit perfectly into a super continent?

As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the Coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!


What are the continents after laurasia?

Laurasia broke into North America, Europe, and Asia.


Why do the present shape of the continents not fit perfectly together?

This question is based off of a theory of Pangea. If the theory were fact, then it could be due to the erosion of the beaches and island. Much like the colorado river and the grand canyon, constant water pushing and pulling away from a land mass changes it's shape.


Why would the present shape of the continents not fit perfectly into the shape of Pangaea and what things might have changed the continents' shapes?

They would fit roughly together but not perfectly due to years and years of erosion. As evident as Africa and So. America are that they were once joined. Erosion does not work. Even with that they will not fit. Try it with cut outs. But shrink the size of the earths sphere to about 1/2 its size today and they fit perfect.


What do the shape of the continents tell us about their past?

The shape of the continents is evidence of the movements of tectonic plates over millions of years. The continents were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea, which began to break apart about 200 million years ago. This process, known as plate tectonics, explains why the continents fit together like a puzzle and why their shapes are complementary.


What two continents are similar in phishcal shape?

South America and Africa have a similar physical shape due to their proximity and the way their coastlines fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. This resemblance is due to the historical connection between these continents when they were part of the supercontinent Pangaea.


Why don't the present shaped of the continents fit perfectly into a super continents?

As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!


Why don't the present shapes of the continents fit perfectly into a super continents?

As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the Coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!


What do the shape of the continents now tell us about their past?

The current shape and position of continents provide evidence for the theory of plate tectonics, which suggests that continents were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea that has since drifted apart. This movement helps explain the similarities between the geology and fossils of now widely separated continents, as well as the presence of matching coastlines and mountain ranges.