answersLogoWhite

0

The continents are constantly shifting. There was never a time or location that it has happened more or less. Scientists estimate that they drift 2 cm (0.8 inch) per year on average.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

What is a exsample of drift?

Drift is a word that generally means to move slowly away from the origin... It has many uses, such as continental drift wherein the continental plates move relative to one another through various geological processes such as convection, subduction, and diversion.


Why is cynognathus a good candidate for providing evidence for the continental drift theory?

Cynognathus is a good candidate for providing evidence for the continental drift theory because its fossil has been found in both South America and Africa, which were once connected in the supercontinent Gondwana. This distribution pattern supports the idea of continental drift, as it suggests that these continents were once joined together and later drifted apart.


How many original super continents did Wegener's theory of continental drift assume?

Wegener's theory of continental drift assumed the existence of one original supercontinent called Pangaea.


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 was Wegner's hypothesis of continental drift not widely accepted at the time it was proposed What do scientists now think might be a possible cause of continental drift?

Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift was not widely accepted during his time because he could not provide a convincing mechanism for how continents could move across the Earth's surface. His ideas contradicted the prevailing geological theories, and many scientists were skeptical of his lack of evidence for a force driving the drift. Today, scientists understand that continental drift is driven by plate tectonics, where the movement of tectonic plates is caused by convection currents in the Earth's mantle. This mechanism provides a clear explanation for the movement of continents over geological time.

Related Questions

What does continental drift do to the features of the planet?

Continental drift is one of the many affects of the earth and it can harm the earth because it could crash into other countries


How many times has a Pangaea occurred?

once but in the distant future the continents will thus drift together hence creating another supercontinent.


How many years did wegner figure out about continental drift?

I think about 2 years


What is a exsample of drift?

Drift is a word that generally means to move slowly away from the origin... It has many uses, such as continental drift wherein the continental plates move relative to one another through various geological processes such as convection, subduction, and diversion.


Is the theory of the continental drift true?

Continental Drift is an obsolete name for the theory of Plate Tectonics and yes, it is true. It has been proved in many ways, by comparing the composition of oceanic crust and its ages with that of the continental crust, by plotting the reversals of magnetism in the oceanic crust and many other ways.


Why is cynognathus a good candidate for providing evidence for the continental drift theory?

Cynognathus is a good candidate for providing evidence for the continental drift theory because its fossil has been found in both South America and Africa, which were once connected in the supercontinent Gondwana. This distribution pattern supports the idea of continental drift, as it suggests that these continents were once joined together and later drifted apart.


How many original ''SuperContinents'' did Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift assume?

One, it was named Pangaea


How many original super continents did Wegener's theory of continental drift assume?

Wegener's theory of continental drift assumed the existence of one original supercontinent called Pangaea.


How Continental drift changes earth?

continental drift can change there earth in many different ways like land forms and climates for example the Hawaiian islands were originally and under water volcano but over the years it has traveled under the crust making new land.


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 was Wegner's hypothesis of continental drift not widely accepted at the time it was proposed What do scientists now think might be a possible cause of continental drift?

Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift was not widely accepted during his time because he could not provide a convincing mechanism for how continents could move across the Earth's surface. His ideas contradicted the prevailing geological theories, and many scientists were skeptical of his lack of evidence for a force driving the drift. Today, scientists understand that continental drift is driven by plate tectonics, where the movement of tectonic plates is caused by convection currents in the Earth's mantle. This mechanism provides a clear explanation for the movement of continents over geological time.


Why would many scientist not accept the hypothesis of continental drift?

Many scientists initially rejected the hypothesis of continental drift because there was a lack of a plausible mechanism to explain how continents could move. Additionally, the idea went against established scientific beliefs at the time and was considered too radical. It was not until the development of the theory of plate tectonics that continental drift was more widely accepted in the scientific community.