is the only one likely to be true and why?- In the face of so much evidence in support of continental drift, how could scientists
reject the idea? - Look at a world map. Besides the coast of west Africa and eastern South America,
what are some other regions of the world that look as they could be closely fit together?
Further Reading / Supplemental Links
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO2qYMsNHGk
- http://www.exploratorium.edu/origins/antarctica/ideas/gondwana2.html
Vocabulary
apparent polar wander The path on the globe showing where the magnetic pole ap-
peared to move over time.
continental drift The hypothesis developed in the early 20th century that states that the
continents move about on the surface.
magnetite A magnetic mineral that takes on the polarity of the Earth’s magnetic field at
the time it forms.
magnetic field The region around a magnet that is susceptible to the magnetic force.
Earth’s magnetic field is like a magnet.
magnetic polarity The direction of the Earth’s magnetic field, north is normal or south
is reversed.
magnetometer An instrument that measures the magnetic field intensity.
Points to Consider
- Why is continental drift referred to as a hypothesis (or idea) and not a theory?
- Why was Wegener’s continental drift idea rejected by the scientific community and
why is it accepted today? - Explain how each of these phenomena can be used as evidence for continental drift: