In 1911, still only 30, wegener collected his meteorology lectures into a book. Unfortunately, wegener could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the force that pushes or pulls the continents. Wegeners evidence sheet, the student map of the world today reference. Wegener said that continents move around on earths surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent.
Continental drift alfred wegener learn who alfred wegener was and state the theory of continental drift. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangea based on fossil and rock evidence on the present day continents. Wegner continental drift worksheets lesson worksheets. This quizworksheet will task you with questions regarding things like research conducted by alfred wegener, continental drift, and plate tectonics. Wegener and his theory of continental drift indian academy of. A german geophysicist, alfred wegener, presented an idea in his book origin of the continents and oceans, evoking the topic of continental drift, which is the gradual movement of the continents across the earths surface through geological time. This evidence shows that continental drift happens at an extremely slow pace. Wegener believed they were examples of a new theorycontinental drift, the gradual movement of continents across earths surface. They then use the reading to complete a graphic organizer about his thinking.
After a visit to s america in 1923, du toit became a staunch supporter of alfred wegeners theory of continental drift. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why lookalike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents and why many of the continents appear to fit together like puzzle pieces into one supercontinent called pangaea. In 1915, wegener published his ideas in a book, on the origin of continents and oceans. State alfred wegeners hypothesis about how earths continents have. Wegener displaying top 8 worksheets found for this concept some of the worksheets for this concept are inside earth work, pangaea puzzle, continental drift activity packet, continental drift work, this dynamic planet, continental drift and plate tectonics, example answers, reconstructing pangea. The continents appear to have been joined over 200 million years ago. Good afternoon, i am a german scientist alfred wegener. Wegener also attempted to explain how the drift of continents took place. Because he could not identify the cause of continental drift, most geologists rejected his theory. Illuminates wegeners continental drift hypothesis and his supporting evidence including the distribution of fossils, rocks, structures, and the climate zones. About 300 million years ago, the super continent pangea was much further south. These events occur because of a theory called continental drift. Science, exploration, and the theory of continental drift. Although alfred wegener was not the first to suggest that continents have moved about the earth, his presentation of carefully compiled evidence for continental drift inspired decades of scientific debate.
Continental drift theory by alfred wegener brainery. Alfred wegener and continental drift it was not until 1912 that the idea of moving continents was seriously considered as a fullblown scientific theory called continental drift introduced in two articles published by a 32yearold german meteorologist named alfred lothar wegener alfred lothar wegener 18801930 earned a. But geologists soundly denounced wegeners theory of continental drift after he published the details in a 1915 book called the origin of continents and. Science for interactive notebooks earth interactive notebook pages alfred wegener and theory of continental driftearth interactive notebook pages alfred wegener and theory of continental drift i would use this journal assignment to introduce alfred wegener and the theory of continental drift. Explain that convection currents within the earths mantle driven by heat released by natural radioactive processes. The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20 th century, mostly by alfred wegener. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
How wegeners hypothesis of continetal drift was refined. Wegeners puzzling evidence displaying top 8 worksheets found for this concept some of the worksheets for this concept are this dynamic planet, fossil evidence, pangaea puzzle, continental drift activity packet, chapter 8 plate tectonics, pangea cut out answer key. Alfred wegener, german meteorologist and geophysicist who formulated the first complete statement of the continental drift hypothesis. Continental drift theory, basically means the way that resulted the present location of the continents and oceans. Continental drift read earth science ck12 foundation. Alfred wegener back in 1915, but several ideas of continental drift date back many years before. He called this supercontinent pangaea, a greek word that means all the earth. Print alfred wegener s theory of continental drift. Continental drift germantown municipal school district. Alfred wegeners continental drift theory graphic organizer students read about alfred wegener and how his theory of continental drift article included was the basis for the plate tectonic theory.
In a book called the origin of continents and oceans. Wegener took this figure from du toit andincluded it in the fourth edition of his book. My friends and i are here to present my theory of continental drift, which i published in the year 1915. In 1915 the first edition of the origin of continents and oceans, a book outlining wegeners. It appears that despite the criticism, alfred wegener was correct all along. Alfred wegeners continental drift theory graphic organizer. Wegeners idea eventually helped to form the theory of plate tectonics, but while wegener was alive, scientists did not believe that the continents could move. He named the large supercontinent pangaea, meaning all earth geosystems 340. Pdf alfred wegenerfrom continental drift to plate tectonics.
He published his observations in a geological comparison of south america with south africa1927, and later he developed his ideas in our wandering continents 1937. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why lookalike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents. Alfred wegeners fossil evidence for continental drift is shown on the cutouts. The reaction to alfred wegeners theory tells us much about the workings of science. This video describes the evidence alfred wegener used to formulate his continental drift hypothesis and examines why this idea did not gain wide acceptance when it. Describe the crust as broken into pieces called tectonic plates. Continental drift is the theory that the earths continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have drifted across the ocean bed. Alfred wegener was a curious scientist who thinks that the continents were together at some point. In 1912, alfred wegener proposed a theory that the continents had once been joined, and over time had drifted apart. This was the time when reptiles and winged insects first appeared. High school earth sciencecontinental drift wikibooks, open.
Wegeners theory of continental drift in 1912 a german scientist names alfred wegener presented his theory of continental drift to the scientific community. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Wegner continental drift worksheets teacher worksheets. While wegener was alive, scientists did not believe that the continents could move. His theory was rejected by most geologists during his lifetime but was resurrected and made a central feature of modern geology as part of the theory of plate tectonics in. Now that scientists understand plate tectonics and how the earth moves, they would be able to support wegeners theory with how continental drift works.
Students will observe and analyze scientific evidence used by wegener. Discusses how the lack of a plausible mechanism kept wegeners colleagues from accepting his continental drift hypothesis. In 1915 the first edition of the origin of continents and oceans, a book outlining wegeners theory, was published. Wegener proposed the continental drift theory, and provided scientific evidences for such, but couldnt explain the mechanism or processes behind the movement of continents. Alfred wegener proposed the theory of continental drift the idea that the. In 1912, a german scientist named alfred wegener w pronounced as a v proposed the theory that all of our continents were once joined together in one single large landmass called pangaea. Alfred wegener s continental drift theory graphic organizer students read about alfred wegener and how his theory of continental drift article included was the basis for the plate tectonic theory. Alfred wegeners continental drift hypothesis lesson plan. Worksheets are inside earth work, alfred wegeners theory of continental drift became modern, fossil evidence, continental drift and plate tectonics, this dynamic planet, alfred wegener harry hess, the continental jigsaw puzzle, reconstructing pangea. Word blank on alfred wegener and match up the period of continental drift to the time. A brief introduction to alfred wegeners theory of continental drift, which would lay the groundwork for the development of plate tectonic theory, which essentially explains the geology of the.
Some of the worksheets displayed are inside earth work, pangaea puzzle, continental drift activity packet, continental drift work, this dynamic planet, continental drift and plate tectonics, example answers, reconstructing pangea. The theory of continental drift continental drift discovery the world alfred wegener theory of continental drift continental drift p95 red book, 182 in sciencesaurus theory that continents were once part of a single landmass that broke apart and have moved to their present locations. Solving this mystery would take the work of a geologic supersleuth. Continental drift the theory of continental drift was proposed at the beginning of the last century by german scientist alfred wegener before wegener developed his theory, it was thought that. Continental drift theory continental drift is the hypothesis that all the continents had once been joined together in a single landmass. Wegener believes that the continents slowly moved our earths surface which is. On the puzzle pieces handout, assign a color to each type of fossil or mountain belt in. Pichler dr christian salewski, historian and archivist, archiv. Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland. Wegner continental drift showing top 8 worksheets in the category wegner continental drift. According to wegeners theory, 225 million years ago, all the land on earth was part of one huge landmass.
He studied land features, fossils, and evidence of climate change. Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on earths surface. According to wegeners theory, 225 million years ago, all the land on earth was part of one huge. This alfred wegeners continental drift hypothesis lesson plan is suitable for 7th 9th grade. Various theories regarding the drift of the continents and oceans were forwarded by numerous geographers, among which the continental drift theory by alfred wegener, was considered the most valid and significant one. Showing top 8 worksheets in the category wegner continental drift. He suggested that the continents had once been joined as a single landmass. All of these facts supported wegeners theory of continental drift. The concept was independently and more fully developed by alfred wegener in 1912, but his theory was rejected by many for. Evaluate the evidence for continental drift and explain why it was not accepted at the time.
Alfred wegeners theory of continental drift lesson. Science, exploration, and the theory of continental drift greene, mott t. Wegener showing top 8 worksheets in the category wegener. Finally, a challenging problem requiring explanation. Continental drift timeline activity sheet continental. Some of the worksheets displayed are inside earth work, alfred wegeners theory of continental drift became modern, fossil evidence, continental drift and plate tectonics, this dynamic planet, alfred wegener harry hess, the continental jigsaw puzzle, reconstructing pangea. Wegeners theory of continental drift wegener started toying with the concept of continental drift in 1910 when, looking at a new atlas, he was impressed afresh with the remarkable similarity in the coastlines across the south atlantic ocean. Figure 11 continental puzzle todays continents provide clues about earths history. As you read about the evidence that supports the theory of continental drift, complete the graphic organizer. In this continental drift lesson students divide into groups and report on what their group discovered during their activity.
He thought that the similarity might arise because south america and africa were parts of the same. The continental drift controversy has been deeply analysed in terms of rationalist notions, which seem to find there a unique topic to describe the weight of evidence for reaching consensus. Original world maps created by alfred wegener showing pangaea and the continents drifting apart. Map showing the coastlines of south america and africa. The theory of plate tectonics and continental drift bartleby. In 1915, wegener published his evidence for continental drift in a book called the origin of continents and oceans. Cut out each of the continents along the edge of the continental shelf the outermost dark line. Alfred wegener theory of continental drift answers. Alfred wegener was a meteorologist who was the first to drill ice cores from a moving glacier, the first to study polar air circulation, and is best known for proposing continental drift. In 1 915, wegener published his ideas in a book, on the origin ofcontinents and oceans.
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