The document discusses Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift from 1912 and plate tectonic theory. Continental drift proposed that continents moved and were once joined, explaining geological matches between distant coastlines. However, it did not explain how or why continents moved. Plate tectonic theory improved on this by proposing that the lithosphere is divided into plates which float on the asthenosphere, allowing continents to move by explaining how they drift due to the movement of tectonic plates.

1. Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics

2. German Meteorologist Alfred Wegner proposed this theory in 1912.Continental Drift

3. German Meteorologist Alfred Wegner proposed this theory in 1912.It explained why the continents seemed to fit together like puzzle pieces.Continental Drift

4. German Meteorologist Alfred Wegner proposed this theory in 1912.It explained why the continents seemed to fit together like puzzles pieces.It explained the match of the geological features on distant coastlines.Continental Drift

5. German Meteorologist Alfred Wegner proposed this theory in 1912.It explained why the continents seemed to fit together like puzzles.It explained the match of the geological features on distant coastlines.It explained identical fossils on distant coastlines.Continental Drift

6. German Meteorologist Alfred Wegner proposed this theory in 1912.It explained why the continents seemed to fit together like puzzles.It explained the match of the geological features on distant coastlines.It explained identical fossils on distant coastlines.It explained the evidence of glaciers near the equator.Continental Drift

7. It did NOT explain how the continents moved.Continental Drift

8. It did NOT explain how the continents moved.It did NOT explain why the continents moved.Continental Drift

9. This theory says the lithosphere is divided into 12 large sections and about 20 smaller ones.Plate Tectonic Theory

10. This theory says the lithosphere is divided into 12 large sections and about 20 smaller ones.These tectonic plates ‘float’ on the more dense, fluid-like asthenopshere.Plate Tectonic Theory

11. This theory says the lithosphere is divided into 12 large sections and about 20 smaller ones.These tectonic plates ‘float’ on the more dense, fluid-like asthenopshere.This theory explains everything the continental drift theory explained.Plate Tectonic Theory

12. This theory says the lithosphere is divided into 12 large sections and about 20 smaller ones.These tectonic plates ‘float’ on the more dense, fluid-like asthenopshere.This theory explains everything the continental drift theory explained.This theory also explains HOW the continents move.Plate Tectonic Theory

13. This theory says the lithosphere is divided into 12 large sections and about 20 smaller ones.These tectonic plates ‘float’ on the more dense, fluid-like asthenopshere.This theory explains everything the continental drift theory explained.This theory explains HOW the continents move.Does this theory explain WHY they move?Plate Tectonic Theory

14. Plate Tectonic TheoryWe’ll investigate that today!