Continental Drift

Question 1

Why did horizontal deformation confuse scientists at first?

Answer 1

It was at first confusing to scientists, because if you unstretched everything it was too big to fit on the earth.

People thought the earth might be shriveling, but this coudn’t be right because mountain ranges are different ages.

Question 2

Evidence of continental drift

Answer 2

• Continent coastlines fit together
• Similar sequence of rocks and fossils across continents
• Similar paleo-climates across continents

Question 3

What new information lead to the death of the theory of continental drift?

Answer 3

Geomagnetism

Marine geophysics