: In the early 1900s Alfred Wegener proposed the continents were “drifting.” The scientific
community did not support his theory due to a lack of scientific evidence. Using what you learned in
this activity, would you support Wegener’s hypothesis or not? Write a two-paragraph essay that
explains your position.
Answer (1)
Answer:In the early 20th century, Alfred Wegener proposed the idea that the continents were once connected in a supercontinent called Pangaea and have since drifted apart over millions of years. At the time, Wegener’s theory of continental drift was met with strong skepticism by the scientific community. His main evidence for this theory included the matching of similar fossils found on distant continents, such as South America and Africa, the alignment of rock formations across different continents, and the way the coastlines of continents like South America and Africa seemed to fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. These observations led him to propose that the continents had once been a single landmass, which later broke apart and drifted to their current positions. Despite these compelling observations, Wegener’s hypothesis was not widely accepted, primarily because he could not offer a convincing explanation for the mechanism behind the drifting of continents. Without a known force or mechanism, scientists were hesitant to support his theory.Today, however, I would fully support Wegener’s hypothesis, as it laid the groundwork for our current understanding of plate tectonics. Modern geology has provided the missing piece of the puzzle: the theory of plate tectonics. We now know that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. These plates are moved by forces such as mantle convection, where the heat from the Earth's core causes the mantle to flow and push the plates. The discovery of seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed and pushes the plates apart, confirmed the movement of continents. Additionally, the recognition of subduction zones, where one plate is forced under another, provided further evidence of plate movement. The identification of these mechanisms gave scientists the ability to understand how continents could drift over time, validating Wegener’s theory. Although Wegener lacked the technology and knowledge available to scientists today, his hypothesis was an important stepping stone, and many of his ideas are now considered foundational in the field of geology. The acceptance of plate tectonics today confirms that Wegener’s vision of a dynamically changing Earth was correct, and his pioneering work remains a crucial part of our understanding of how continents and oceans have shaped the planet over millions of years.
