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Yes, and using what was known about the earth at that time Wegener's continental drift theory was so implausible that it had to be rejected.

It took data secretly collected by the US Navy after WW2 to account for strange magnetic anomalies that interfered with precision navigation of warships and submarines to give the first hints of a plausible mechanism. But since this data was classified for a long time it was not available to the scientific community, long delaying acceptance of the theory. When the theory was finally accepted the name had been changed to plate tectonics, because it wasn't the continents drifting it was the plates shifting (both continental and oceanic).

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Why did most scientists originally reject the theory of continental drift?

Most scientists originally reject the theory of continental drift since it did clearly explain continents would move. This is a theory that has been established by Wegener and did not get good support initially.


Why did scientists reject wegners theory of continental drift?

Scientist rejected Wegners hypothesis of continental drift at first because he did not have enogh evidence to support his theory. He failed to provide a suitable mechanism that could cause the continents to move.


Why was the hypothesis of continental drift rejected when it was proposed by wegener?

Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift was rejected because he lacked a plausible mechanism to explain how the continents moved. Additionally, the scientific community at the time did not have sufficient evidence to support the idea of continents drifting. It wasn't until the theory of plate tectonics emerged later, providing a mechanism and supporting evidence, that continental drift became widely accepted.


What happens if scientists detect biased data?

The study is rejected.


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.

Related Questions

What was the reason wegeners continental drift hypothesis was rejected?

His evidence was incorrect.


When scientists rejected the continental drift were they using the scientific process?

Yes, scientists were using the scientific process when they rejected the continental drift theory. The process involves proposing a hypothesis, testing it through observations and experiments, and revising or rejecting it based on the evidence. In this case, scientists rejected the theory because they did not find enough supporting evidence at the time.


Why most geologists rejected Alfred wegeners idea of continental drift?

dont ask me freak


What was the main reason wegeners continental drift was rejected?

He could not provide a wholly acceptable explanation for the movement of the continents.


Why was the continental drift rejected by scientists?

yes becouse wenger is not geologist and he could not explain the how continental drift theory


Why scientists rejected wegener's hypothesis of continental drift?

Scientist rejected Wegners hypothesis of continental drift at first because he did not have enogh evidence to support his theory. He failed to provide a suitable mechanism that could cause the continents to move.


The scientist of wegeners should have rejected his idea?

no because then they would know least about the world


At first many scientists rejected Wegener and the hypothesis of continental drift. What was their main objection to his hypothesis?

The main objection to Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift was the lack of a plausible mechanism to explain how continents could move. Wegener's idea of continents plowing through solid oceanic crust was not supported by scientific knowledge at that time, leading many scientists to reject his hypothesis.


How with so much evidence to support continental drift how could scientists reject the idea?

Some scientists rejected the idea of continental drift because Alfred Wegener, who proposed the theory, lacked a plausible mechanism to explain how continents could move. In addition, the scientific community at the time held onto the prevailing belief in static continents and were resistant to accepting a new paradigm. It wasn't until the development of plate tectonics in the 1960s that continental drift became widely accepted.


What do scientists now know about earth that would have answered the scientists who rejected wegeners theory?

Scientists now know about plate tectonics, which explains how Earth's outer shell is divided into large plates that move and interact with each other. This understanding supports Wegener's theory of continental drift, as it provides a mechanism for the movement of continents over time. Additionally, evidence from ocean floor mapping, seafloor spreading, and magnetic striping further supports the concept of plate tectonics.


Why was wegners continental drift hypothesis rejected by the scientific community?

because he couldn't explain what forces caused the continents to move... :D yup that's why


Why scientist reject newtons third law of motion?

The third law is rejected by scientists, it has been proven to work, and has been accepted by the scientific community.