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Name:_____________________________________ Period:_____
Date:______________
Chapter 7 The Earth’s Moving Crust
Lesson 1 Moving Plates
Are the Continents Moving? (p.D6-D7)
Movement of Earth’s Crust
 ________________ are scientists who study Earth and its processes, history, and
composition.
 They can tell that the solid surface, or ______________, of Earth is moving by
________________ its fast and slow movements
 During _________________ the movement of the Earth’s crust can be seen
 Geologists also study rocks for signs of ________________________
 They can see layers of _______________________________ in rocks that have been
twisted or tilted.
Motion of Continents
 In 1912, a German scientist named _______________________, wrote a book called
The Origins of Continents and Oceans
 In his book, he gave evidence that Earth’s ____________________ had once fit
together like pieces of a puzzle, forming a single large ___________________
 This huge supercontinent was called ________________ meaning “all lands”
 He proposed the theory of ______________________________
o Stated that Earth’s continents were once joined in a single large landmass that
broke apart and the continents _______________ to their current location
Evidence for Continental Drift
1. Shapes of the continent’s coastlines _________________
2. Similar animal and plant ______________ were discovered in places that were far
apart
a. In matching ________________________ of different continents
3. Age and kinds of ___________ along the edge of one coastline are similar to those on
another continent
4. Some __________________________ on different continents seem to match
a. As well as ______________ “scars” or marks
 Wegener did not explain ____________ or __________ the “drifting” took place
 The continents are NOT ________________ on water; they are part of the Earth’s
solid __________________
 Studying the _________________ floor might reveal some clues.
Q1: How does Wegener’s hypothesis explain why Earth’s surface must be
moving?
A: ______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Name:_____________________________________ Period: _____
Date:______________
Chapter 7 The Earth’s Moving Crust
Lesson 1 Moving Plates
Are the Continents Moving? (p.D6-D7)
Movement of Earth’s Crust
 Geologists are scientists who study Earth and its processes, history, and composition.
 They can tell that the solid surface, or crust, of Earth is moving by observing its fast
and slow movements
 During earthquakes the movement of the Earth’s crust can be seen
 Geologists also study rocks for signs of movement
 They can see layers of original horizontality in rocks that have been twisted or tilted.
Motion of Continents
 In 1912, a German scientist named Alfred Wegener, wrote a book called The Origins of
Continents and Oceans
 In his book, he gave evidence that Earth’s continents had once fit together like pieces
of a puzzle, forming a single large landmass
 This huge supercontinent was called Pangea meaning “all lands”
 He proposed the theory of continental drift
o Stated that Earth’s continents were once joined in a single large landmass that
broke apart and the continents drifted apart to their current location
Evidence for Continental Drift
1.
Shapes of the continent’s coastlines match
2. Similar animal and plant fossils were discovered in places that were far apart
a. In matching coastlines of different continents
3. Age and kinds of rocks along the edge of one coastline are similar to those on another
continent
4. Some mountain ranges on different continents seem to match
a. As well as glacier “scars” or marks
 Wegener did not explain how or why the “drifting” took place
 The continents are NOT floating on water; they are part of the Earth’s solid crust
 Studying the ocean floor might reveal some clues.
Q: How does Wegener’s hypothesis explain why Earth’s surface must be
moving?
A: Since different continents match in coastlines, rock type and structure,
climate, and ancient and living organisms, then the land masses must have
moved from an earlier arrangement.