Download PESPTprogramIntroContDrift12-13

Plate Tectonics Computer Program
Part 1: Background information & Continental Drift
Ch. 1: Introduction Notes
1. The movement of earth’s rocky outer layer called the lithosphere continues today.
The movements of the lithosphere cause _______________,
___________________, and ___________________.
2. The modern scientific theory which describes this movement that causes these
things is called _______________________________ theory.
3. This theory grew out of an earlier hypothesis that was partially correct and
partially incorrect that attempted to describe the movement of continents called
________________________.
Ch. 2: Continental Drift Notes
1. Who was Alfred Wegener and what was his role in developing the theory of plate
tectonics?
2. What was Pangaea and when did it exist?
3. List the 4 pieces of evidence Wegener used to support his theory of continental
drift.
4. Look at the diagram of Pangaea according to Wegener showing how all the
continents fit together (slide 21).
a. What continents is Antarctica next to?
b. What continent is to the east of South America?
5. Name 3 animals/plants that left fossils on different continents 200 million years
ago.
6. Before people knew about Pangaea, the existence of these matching fossils was
explained by:
1
7. What was Wegener’s better explanation for the matching fossils on different
continents?
8. Not just fossils match on different continents, ____________________ of the
same age and type match too!
9. What is the name of the mountain chain that extends along the eastern U.S. to
Newfoundland? ______________________(Hint: these mountains probably once
connected with the mountains across the Atlantic Ocean in the British Isles and
Scandinavia.). This is an example of how Wegener used geologic evidence for
continental drift.
10. How did Wegener explain the evidence of ice
in the past in places like India and South
Africa that are warm today? See diagram to
right for help…
11. What was one of the major problems with
Wegener’s Continental drift hypothesis?
Ch. 4: Earth’s Interior Notes
1. What is the source of energy for the movement of earth’s outer shell including the
continents?
2. The temperature of earth’s interior ________________(increases/decreases)
toward earth’s center where it may exceed _______________.
3. As you go deeper temperature ______________ (increases/decreases) and
pressure ____________. Together with composition, this determines which
layers will be liquid, solid, or semi-solid (called “plastic solid” meaning it is solid
that flows).
4. The asthenosphere is part of the ____________(Mantle/Crust) Unlike the rock
above it is capable of _________________. This makes it a “plastic solid” much
like glacial ice or silly putty.
5. The name of the layer above the asthenosphere is the _________________ and
includes both the very top of the mantle and the _______________. Unlike the
asthenosphere, this layer is a ______________ solid which means it breaks
instead of flows.
6. Why is this layer so rigid…why does it break instead of flow?
2
3