Continental Drift Definition
Continental drift explains continents moving across Earth over time. For example, matching fossils on different continents support this theory.
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Tectonic Plates
Fun Facts
- The matching shapes of continents are evidence of continental drift.
- Pangea was a supercontinent that existed about 240 million years ago.
- The discovery of similar rocks and minerals on different continents supports Wegener's theory from 1913.
Why Do We Need To Know About Continental Drift
Learning about how continents move helps us know why we can predict earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This knowledge is important for keeping people safe and can lead to jobs in studying earthquakes (seismology) or volcanoes (volcanology).
Understanding how continents drift isn’t just about Earth. It helps us learn about the history of our planet and what other planets like Mars are made of. This shows why it’s important to learn about continental drift, from predicting disasters to exploring other planets.
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