Why do the continents not fit back together perfectly?
Answer Expert Verified The present shaped of the continents doesn’t fit anymore due to the changes in geography and topography of a continent or place. One of the reasons that affect its shape are erosion, earthquake, converging of plates and others.
Why do continents that have oceans between them look as if they could fit together if they were closer?
If you look at a map of Earth, you may notice that some of the continents seem to fit together. This apparent fit is due to the fact the continents were once connected, and have since moved apart in what has been called continental drift .
Is the Earth getting larger and wider when plates drift away from each other?
The earth is not getting larger and wider when plates drift away from each other. As they move, they will encounter other plates and end up diving beneath them. Places where plates collide are called subduction zones. One plate runs over the other, forcing it down into the earth’s mantle again.
Do you think that the way continents fit together is convincing evidence for the theory of plate tectonics Why or why not?
Modern continents hold clues to their distant past. Evidence from fossils, glaciers, and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the plates once fit together.
How are the continents of the world connected?
Lower sea levels would have left the continental shelves exposed, connecting all of the major land masses through land bridges. There are (or at least were) shallow underwater land bridges connecting all of the major continents. North America, Southeast Asia, and Australia are all attached to continental Asia.
Why do scientists think the Earth was once one supercontinent?
The movement of the plates is responsible to the formation of ocean basins, mountain ranges, volcanoes and earthquakes. Over the past 100 years, scientists have continued to find evidence supporting the idea that the Earth was once one supercontinent called Pangea.
How did the theory of continental drift come about?
The way some continents fit together like puzzle pieces inspired the theory of continental drift.
What causes the continents to move away from each other?
Wegener suggested that perhaps the rotation of the Earth caused the continents to shift towards and apart from each other. (It doesn’t.) Today, we know that the continents rest on massive slabs of rock called tectonic plates. The plates are always moving and interacting in a process called plate tectonics.