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What is Plate Tectonics?
A theory developed in the 1960s and 70s to describe the internal forces that deform the Earth's crust.
What was Pangea?
A super-continent that existed around 200 million years ago, where all continents were once joined.
What landmasses were formed from Pangea?
Laurasia in the northern hemisphere and Gondwanaland in the southern hemisphere.
Who was Alfred Wegener?
A scientist who proposed the theory of continental drift in 1912 based on fossil distribution, mountain trends, and coastline shapes.
What is sea-floor spreading?
A process proposed by Harry Hess in the 1960s where new crust is created as magma erupts from the sea floor, forming submarine mountain ridges.
What does the Mid-Atlantic Ridge represent?
An underwater mountain range where new rocks are formed as tectonic plates move apart.
Who were Vine and Matthews?
Researchers who integrated Wegener's and Hess's ideas to build the foundation of modern plate tectonic theory.
What are convection currents?
Movements of molten magma in the mantle that act as the mechanism for the movement of tectonic plates.
What is the significance of Pangea?
Pangea is significant as it provides evidence for continental drift and the historical geological development of Earth.
How did Alfred Wegener support his theory of continental drift?
Wegener supported his theory through the distribution of fossils, similarities in rock formations, and the fit of coastlines.
What role does the Mid-Atlantic Ridge play in plate tectonics?
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge plays a crucial role in plate tectonics as it is a divergent boundary where new oceanic crust is formed.
How do convection currents influence tectonic plate movement?
Convection currents in the mantle create heat and movement, which causes tectonic plates to move and leads to geological activity.
What was the contribution of Harry Hess to plate tectonic theory?
Harry Hess contributed the idea of sea-floor spreading, explaining how new crust is generated at the ocean floor.
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