Wegener and idea that tidal forces might cause continental drift was refuted as impossible when research?

Answer 1

Alfred Wegener proposed that tidal forces could contribute to continental drift, but this idea was refuted when research demonstrated that the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and Sun are insufficient to move large land masses. Subsequent studies in plate tectonics revealed that continental drift is primarily driven by the movement of tectonic plates due to mantle convection, slab pull, and ridge push, rather than tidal forces. These findings established a more robust scientific framework for understanding the dynamics of Earth's lithosphere.