Question bank: Continental Drift

In 1912, Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift, suggesting that continents are constantly moving across the Earth's surface. This theory challenged prevailing ideas and provided plausible explanations for observations such as the similarity of fossils found on different continents and the correspondence of certain coastal contours, such as those of South America and Africa. Consider the information presented and based on your knowledge, justify why the shape of the east coast of South America resembles the shape of the west coast of Africa, as illustrated in the figure below. Also, explain how the theory of continental drift supports your justification. Make sure to include in your answer a discussion of the forces that may be acting to cause the separation and movement of the continents. (Include one or more diagrams, if necessary, to support your explanation.)

Industrially developed countries are responsible for a large part of the polluting emissions worldwide, as they have a higher number of industries operating on their territories with fossil fuels that have a high pollutant content in the Earth's atmosphere. Therefore, these countries have internationally agreed commitments to reduce their polluting emissions in the environment regarding the destruction of Earth's protective layer against the ultraviolet rays emitted by the Sun: which international treaty deals with this issue?

Continental drift is a process that occurs due to tectonic forces, and not gravitational forces, acting on the Earth's crust. This process is responsible for significant changes on the planet's surface, such as the separation of continents and the formation of new seas and oceans. According to geological studies, it is believed that this process began about 4 billion years ago, when the Earth was still in its early formation phase. The other alternatives present more recent time periods that do not correspond to the beginning of continental drift.

The theory of continental drift, proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912, revolutionized geology by suggesting that Earth's continents were once joined together in a supercontinent, Pangaea, which later fragmented and drifted to their current positions. This theory was the precursor to the current theory of plate tectonics. In a vestibular context, discuss how the theory of continental drift can be used to explain the geological similarities between the east coast of South America and the west coast of Africa, as well as to justify the differences in the shapes of both coasts. Additionally, analyze how current tectonic movements can indicate possible future changes in the configurations of continents, considering the dynamics of tectonic plates in the South Atlantic.

The theory of continental drift, proposed by Alfred Wegener, suggests that the current land masses were once united in a single supercontinent called Pangaea. Considering that the east coast of Brazil fits almost perfectly with the west coast of Africa, explain how this fit provides evidence in favor of the theory of continental drift. Furthermore, justify the importance of current continents undergoing continental drift for biological formation and evolution.