What is drift theory?

Continental drift is the hypothesis that the Earth’s continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have “drifted” across the ocean bed.

What does continental drift theory explain?

The theory of continental drift is most associated with the scientist Alfred Wegener. In the early 20th century, Wegener published a paper explaining his theory that the continental landmasses were “drifting” across the Earth, sometimes plowing through oceans and into each other.

What is continental drift theory class 10?

The theory of continental drift points out that the Earth’s continents are constantly drifting away from each other. According to this theory: all the continents were one single continental mass (called a Super Continent) – Pangaea. The earth’s crust is made of up of many sections called tectonic plates.

What is continental drift theory class 6?

The theory deals with the distribution of the oceans and the continents. According to Wegener’s Continental Drift theory, all the continents were one single continental mass (called a Super Continent) – Pangaea and a Mega Ocean surrounded this supercontinent. The mega ocean is known by the name Panthalassa.

What is continental drift theory class 8?

Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth’s surface. Set forth in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why look-alike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents.

What is the idea of Pangea?

German meteorologist Alfred Wegener first presented the concept of Pangea (meaning “all lands”) along with the first comprehensive theory of continental drift, the idea that Earth’s continents slowly move relative to one another, at a conference in 1912 and later in his book The Origin of Continents and Oceans (1915).

Why do the continents move?

The movement of these tectonic plates is likely caused by convection currents in the molten rock in Earth’s mantle below the crust. Earthquakes and volcanoes are the short-term results of this tectonic movement. The long-term result of plate tectonics is the movement of entire continents over millions of years (Fig.

What are 3 boundary types?

There are three main types of plate boundaries:

• Convergent boundaries: where two plates are colliding. Subduction zones occur when one or both of the tectonic plates are composed of oceanic crust. …
• Divergent boundaries – where two plates are moving apart. …
• Transform boundaries – where plates slide passed each other.

Who is the father of continental drift?

Alfred Wegener

Alfred Wegener: The Father of Continental Drift.

What causes earthquakes?

The tectonic plates are always slowly moving, but they get stuck at their edges due to friction. When the stress on the edge overcomes the friction, there is an earthquake that releases energy in waves that travel through the earth’s crust and cause the shaking that we feel.

What causes a tsunami?

A tsunami is a series of extremely long waves caused by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean, usually the result of an earthquake below or near the ocean floor. This force creates waves that radiate outward in all directions away from their source, sometimes crossing entire ocean basins.

What is this tsunami?

Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. Out in the depths of the ocean, tsunami waves do not dramatically increase in height. But as the waves travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as the depth of the ocean decreases.

Are volcanoes seismic?

Nearly every recorded volcanic eruption has some form of earthquake activity beneath or near the volcano. Due to the relation between magma movement, earthquakes, and possible eruptions, approximately 200 of the world’s volcanoes are seismically monitored.

Where is the Ring of Fire?

western Pacific Ocean

The Ring of Fire includes the Pacific coasts of South America, North America and Kamchatka, and some islands in the western Pacific Ocean.

Do earthquakes precede volcanic eruptions?

A few large regional earthquakes (greater than magnitude 6) are considered to be related to a subsequent eruption or to some type of unrest at a nearby volcano. However, volcanoes can only be triggered into eruption by nearby tectonic earthquakes if they are already poised to erupt.

How do volcanoes make earthquakes?

Volcanically-caused long period earthquakes are produced by vibrations generated by the movement of magma or other fluids within the volcano. Pressure within the system increases and the surrounding rock fails, creating small earthquakes.

Why does a volcano erupt?

Volcanoes erupt when molten rock called magma rises to the surface. Magma is formed when the earth’s mantle melts. Melting may happen where tectonic plates are pulling apart or where one plate is pushed down under another. Magma is lighter than rock so rises towards the Earth’s surface.

What causes volcanoes?

How are volcanoes formed? Volcanoes are formed by eruptions of lava and ash when magma rises through cracks or weak-spots in the Earth’s crust. A build up of pressure in the earth is released, by things such as a plate movement which forces molten rock to exploded into the air causing a volcanic eruption.

How do you call the release of magma from a volcano?

The release of magma (lava) from the crater of a volcano is a volcanic eruption.

Why is lava so hot?

Lava is hot for two primary reasons: Pressure and radiogenic heating make it very hot deep in the Earth (about 100 km down) where rocks melt to make magma. The rock around the magma is a good insulator so the magma doesn’t lose much heat on the way to the surface.

How do volcanoes benefit human?

Over geologic time, volcanic eruptions and related processes have directly and indirectly benefited mankind: Volcanic materials ultimately break down and weather to form some of the most fertile soils on Earth, cultivation of which has produced abundant food and fostered civilizations.

What do lava tubes do?

These underground passageways, also known as pyroducts, are created by lava flows themselves and are capable of transporting great quantities of lava long distances underneath the surface. When the supply of lava stops at the end of an eruption, or if it gets diverted elsewhere, it leaves behind an empty cave.

What created the new land?

Massive eruptions of rock and ash from a volcano in Tonga created this new land in January. The baby island bubbled from the ocean about 65 kilometres northwest of the capital Nuku’alofa, becoming the world’s youngest land mass.

What do lava look like?

https://youtu.be/
The rock becomes so weak and cracked it makes it easier for magma to reach the surface. There's no definite end to this that we can tell right.

What is obsidian and how is it formed?

obsidian, igneous rock occurring as a natural glass formed by the rapid cooling of viscous lava from volcanoes. Obsidian is extremely rich in silica (about 65 to 80 percent), is low in water, and has a chemical composition similar to rhyolite.

What can hold lava?

ANSWER : There are many materials that can withstand these temperatures: from metals such as (nickel alloys, iron alloys, tungsten and molybdenum alloys, even though these two might have oxidation issues, iridium, osmium, titanium, etc) to ceramics (silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, mullite, zirconia, etc).

Is obsidian sharper than diamond?

Surprising Things about Obsidian



Surprisingly, the edge of a piece of obsidian is superior to that of a surgeon’s steel scalpel. It is 3 times sharper than diamond and between 500-1000 times sharper than a razor or a surgeon’s steel blade resulting in easier incisions and fewer microscopic ragged tissue cuts.