Earth Science: Repeated Reading
Directions: Read the entire page to your partner, then, switch partners.
The Theory of Plate tectonics states that Earth’s crust is divided into many slowly moving plates. New crust is constantly formed in mid-ocean ridges, and old crust is devoured in deep-sea trenches. Continents are carried along on the plates like luggage on a conveyer belt. Mountains and volcanoes are formed at the boundaries of colliding plates, and earthquakes occur when plates move suddenly past one another. In fact, almost every major landscape feature on Earth originated from the motions and interactions of plates. The following is physical evidence to support the Theory of Plate tectonics.
The coastlines of South America, North America, and Africa fit together. Other landmasses can be joined together as well. Many fossil species can be found on continents separated by large oceans such as lystrosaurus, a plant eating reptile more closely related to mammals than dinosaurs, and cynognathus, a predatory reptile also related to early mammals; also, mesosaurus, an aquatic reptile somewhat similar to modern crocodiles, and glossoptera, an ancient tree that once dominated Southern Hemisphere forests are fossils found far from closely related species.
Distinctive rock layers and mountain ranges also match up when continents are joined together. The Appalachians of North America and the Anti-Atlas range in Morocco are mountains that formed as continents collided 450 million years ago.
Lastly, glacial evidence only makes sense when continents are joined together. For example, India is located just north of the Equator. But glacial scratches on Indian rocks indicate that continental glaciers had once traveled across India, moving north! This only makes sense if India used to be situated fairly close to the South Pole.
The coastlines of South America, North America, and Africa fit together. Other landmasses can be joined together as well. Many fossil species can be found on continents separated by large oceans such as lystrosaurus, a plant eating reptile more closely related to mammals than dinosaurs, and cynognathus, a predatory reptile also related to early mammals; also, mesosaurus, an aquatic reptile somewhat similar to modern crocodiles, and glossoptera, an ancient tree that once dominated Southern Hemisphere forests are fossils found far from closely related species.
Distinctive rock layers and mountain ranges also match up when continents are joined together. The Appalachians of North America and the Anti-Atlas range in Morocco are mountains that formed as continents collided 450 million years ago.
Lastly, glacial evidence only makes sense when continents are joined together. For example, India is located just north of the Equator. But glacial scratches on Indian rocks indicate that continental glaciers had once traveled across India, moving north! This only makes sense if India used to be situated fairly close to the South Pole.