Question 1

Who was Alfred Wegener?

Accepted Answer

Alfred Wegener was a scientist from Germany. He is famous for coming up with the idea that continents move around the Earth.

Question 2

What is continental drift?

Accepted Answer

Continental drift is the idea that continents, like big pieces of a puzzle, slowly move around on Earth's surface over time.

Question 3

How did Alfred Wegener come up with the idea of continental drift?

Accepted Answer

Wegener noticed that the shapes of continents looked like they could fit together, like pieces of a puzzle. He also found that similar plants and animals were found on continents that are far apart today.

Question 4

What evidence did Wegener find to support continental drift?

Accepted Answer

Wegener found matching fossils and rocks on continents that are now separated by oceans. He also saw that mountain ranges on different continents lined up when you put the continents together.

Question 5

Why didn't people believe Wegener at first?

Accepted Answer

People didn't believe Wegener because he couldn't explain how or why the continents moved. Scientists back then thought the Earth was too solid for continents to drift.

Question 6

What are tectonic plates?

Accepted Answer

Tectonic plates are huge pieces of Earth's surface that move over time. It's like the Earth has a cracked shell, and the pieces slowly glide around.

Question 7

How do tectonic plates move?

Accepted Answer

Tectonic plates move because the layer under them is like soft, hot rock. The heat makes the rock move, pushing the plates around slowly.

Question 8

What happens when tectonic plates bump into each other?

Accepted Answer

When tectonic plates bump into each other, they can form mountains or cause earthquakes and volcanoes. It's like when two cars bump and crunch against each other.

Question 9

What happens when tectonic plates move apart?

Accepted Answer

When tectonic plates move apart, space opens up where lava can rise to form new land. This is how new ocean floor is created.

Question 10

How did Wegener's idea change how we understand Earth?

Accepted Answer

Wegener's idea helped scientists see that the Earth is always changing. It showed that continents and oceans aren't fixed; they move and change over time.

Question 11

Did Alfred Wegener live to see his theory accepted?

Accepted Answer

No, Wegener passed away in 1930 before people accepted his theory. Scientists only accepted continental drift many years later when they found more evidence.

Question 12

What is Pangaea?

Accepted Answer

Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed millions of years ago. All the continents were joined together in one big landmass before they drifted apart.

Question 13

How long does it take for continents to move?

Accepted Answer

Continents move very slowly, only a few inches each year. It takes millions of years for them to move long distances.

Question 14

What is an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

An earthquake is when the ground shakes because tectonic plates suddenly move. It's like a giant jolt or wiggle in the Earth's crust.

Question 15

What role do oceans play in continental drift?

Accepted Answer

Oceans form where tectonic plates move apart. They act like giant moats that separate moving continents over millions of years.

Question 16

How do fossils help prove continental drift?

Accepted Answer

Fossils of the same plants and animals are found on continents now separated by oceans. This suggests the continents were once together.

Question 17

Can we see continents moving today?

Accepted Answer

The movement is too slow to see with our eyes, but scientists use special tools to measure it. Satellites and GPS technology can detect the tiny movements of continents.

Question 18

What did people think about Earth's surface before Wegener?

Accepted Answer

Before Wegener, most people thought Earth's surface was fixed and never changed. They believed continents and oceans were always where they are now.

Question 19

What can we learn from studying continental drift?

Accepted Answer

Studying continental drift helps us predict earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It also shows us how Earth's surface has changed over millions of years, telling Earth's story.

Question 20

Why is Alfred Wegener important in science history?

Accepted Answer

Alfred Wegener is important because he challenged old ideas and started new ones about how Earth changes. His work laid the groundwork for modern geology and our understanding of tectonic plates.

The Adventure of Alfred Wegener and Continental Drift - 20 FAQs Explained Simply