Fossil evidence of the same species found on multiple continents. Matching geological formations across continents, such as mountain ranges. Similar rock formations and ages of rocks on different continents. Paleoclimatic evidence, like glacial deposits in areas that are now far from the poles. Fit of continental shelf margins, where coastlines align when continents are pieced together.
Alfred Wegener proposed the idea of continental drift, suggesting that the continents of South America and Africa fit together like a puzzle. He used geological and fossil evidence to support his theory of the supercontinent Pangaea.
Approximately 335 million years ago, all the Earth's continents were joined together in a supercontinent called Pangaea. Over time, due to the movement of tectonic plates, Pangaea began to break apart, leading to the formation of the continents as we know them today.
The continents that fit together like a puzzle are South America and Africa. This phenomenon, known as continental drift, supports the theory of plate tectonics, suggesting that these landmasses were once connected as part of the supercontinent Pangaea, before shifting apart over millions of years.
Africa and South America are similar in physical outline shape. This resemblance is due to the way these continents used to fit together as part of the supercontinent Pangaea.
Alfred Wegener used the fit of the continents, fossil evidence, and rock formations to support his theory of continental drift. He noticed how the continents seemed to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, found similar fossils on different continents, and discovered matching rock layers across continents. These pieces of evidence led him to propose the idea of Pangaea and the movement of continents over time.
Two forms of evidence used to support the continental drift theory are the fit of the continents (jigsaw-like arrangement of continents' coastlines) and matching geological formations (similar rock types, structures, and mountain ranges on different continents). Additionally, paleontological evidence, such as similar fossil records found across separate continents, also supports the theory.
Alfred Wegener used evidence from fossils, rock formations, and the fit of the continents to theorize Pangaea. He observed similarities in plant and animal fossils found across continents, matching mountain ranges, and how the coastlines of continents seemed to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.
1. The continents fit together, like a jigsaw puzzle. 2. Similar plant and animal fossils. 3. Large ice sheets. 4. Tropical plants. 5. Scratches on the rocks.
Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift was supported by five main pieces of evidence: 1) the jigsaw-like fit of the continents, particularly along their coastlines; 2) the distribution of identical fossils and rock formations across separate continents; 3) the alignment of ancient mountain ranges across continents; 4) evidence of past glaciation in regions that are now closer to the equator; and 5) the matching of certain geological features, such as coal deposits and ancient climates, across continents that are now separated by oceans. These pieces of evidence collectively provided strong support for Wegener's theory of continental drift.
Alfred Wegener used a variety of evidence to support his theory of continental drift, including the jigsaw-like fit of continents, matching rock formations and fossils across continents, and similarities in ancient climates and geological structures. He did not have access to modern technology such as GPS or satellite imagery.
A jigsaw is used for cutting curved or round holes. With a straight guide it can cut straight lines.
Alfred Wegener used several lines of evidence to support his theory of continental drift, including the jigsaw-like fit of the continents, similarities in rock formations and fossil remains across continents, and the matching geological features along coastlines of different continents, such as mountain ranges and ancient glacial deposits.
Alfred Wegener used several lines of evidence to support his theory of continental drift, including the fit of the continents like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, similarities in rock formations and fossils across continents, as well as evidence of past glaciation patterns and ancient climate belts that only made sense if the continents were once connected.
Wegener used several lines of evidence to support his theory of continental drift, including the fit of the continents like a jigsaw puzzle, similarities in rock formations and fossils across continents, matching mountain ranges on different coastlines, and evidence of past glaciation patterns. These observations suggested that the continents were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangaea and had drifted apart over time.
The plates have different shapes, and they all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. They are like puzzle pieces because many years ago, they used to be joined and then they parted. On the other hand, unlike puzzle pieces, some plates are being pushed underneath other plates (usually oceanic under continental), and new crust is being formed at spreading rifts.
Evidence supporting the existence of Pangaea includes the jigsaw-like fit of the continents, similarities in rock types and mountain ranges across continents, fossil evidence of similar species found on different continents, and glacial striations that align when continents are pieced back together. Additionally, scientists have used paleomagnetic data and plate tectonics theory to further support the theory of Pangaea's existence.