Question

Explain the theory of Plate Tectonics?

Answer 1

Hint:German meteorologist is identified as the first one to develop a theory of plate tectonics, according to him there was only one continent which is called Pangea and the breakup of this continent started and with that, the continent-sized parts began to move away from one another.

Complete answer:
The theory of plate tectonics provided that the earth’s lithosphere is divided into seven major and some minor plates. The movement of the plates results in building up tensions within the plates and the rocks above which results in faulting, folding, and volcanic activity.
According to Alfred Wegener, there was a huge landmass called Pangea but due to electronic currents inside the earth’s surface the landmass started breaking up and the continent drifted apart and resulted in several small landmasses called continents.

What was the evidence that the continent was a huge landmass and present-day continents are a part of that landmass?
I. Alfred Wegener provided for the Geological fit that provided for the matching of large scale geological features on different continents.
II. Another evidence was fossils found on separate continents and not other regions.

Plate boundaries are important as they are associated with earthquakes and Volcanoes. When Earth’s plates pass one another enormous amount of energy releases in the form of earthquakes. When the plates move they collide or spread apart and allow the hot molten material called lava to come out to the earth’s surface.

Note:
The plates that made up Pangea drifted apart from each other at a rate of 1 millimeter a year.
There are seven major plates: African, Antarctic, Indo Australia, North American, Eurasian, Pacific, and South America.