Pangaea to the Present

Discussion Questions

1. In your own words explain what the Continental Drift Theory states.
   The Earth's plates are moved very slowly, 1-4 inches per year, by convection currents emanating from the mantle. These plates have been moving for millions of years and continue to move today.
   
    
2. How did Alfred Wegener try to prove that the continents of Africa and South America were once connected.
   Alfred Wegener discovered that the magnetic bands in rocks from South America did not point to the north pole as they should. If these rocks were moved to the position that Wegener though they were created then they did point to the north pole. He also matched rocks from Africa and South America for mineral content and age.
   
    
3. How did the ancient people of Japan explain earthquakes?
   The Japanese explained that earthquakes were produced by a giant catfish called Namazu. This catfish lived under the Earth's surface and shook very violently when it was not kept under control by the god Kashima.
   
    
4. How did the ancient Romans explain the presence volcanoes.
   Vulcan, the god of weapons, used the volcanoes off the coast of the Roman Empire as his forge.
    
5. What caused Pangaea to break up?
   Pangaea split apart for the same reason that the plates are moving today. Convection currents in the mantle move the plates of the Earth at 1-4 inches per year.
   
    
6. What is the Continental Drift Theory?
   The continental drift theory states that the plates of the Earth are moving at 1-4 inches per year. This movement is caused by convection currents in the mantle. The continents have been moving into their present position for about 250 million years. They were once joined into one huge continent called Pangaea.
    
7. What happened at the Triple Junction? Where is it located today?
   The triple junction was a tear in the Earth's crust that allowed massive amounts of lava to pour out. This zone was located in west central Africa and eastern South America. Geologists use this junction to prove that the two continents of South America and Africa were joined at one time. The rocks located in these regions are identical for mineral content and age.