Earth’s Systems- Quiz 1 Review 

Continental Drift Theory 

The theory of the continental drift was proposed by scientist Alfred Wegner. 
Alfred stated that the continents were once one giant supercontinent called 
Pangea 250 million years ago. But as time went on the continents moved 
further apart from each other, which is where they are today.  Alfred Wegner 
noticed that the same type of fossils were found on continents many miles 
apart. By looking at fossils, plants, and landforms he came up with the theory 
of Continental Drift. The only way that the same animals could end up on 
different continents many miles away would be in the continents were once 
together like a jigsaw puzzle. 
Sea Floor Spreading Theory 
The theory of the seafloor spreading was proposed by scientist Henry Hess. 
Seafloor spreading explains how the continental drift happened over millions of 
years. When magma rises from the asthenosphere up through the lithosphere 
the magma erupts in the mid-ocean ridge. This causes new (younger) rock to 
form and push older rock to both sides of the mid - ocean ridge. The older 
rock then gets pushed back into mantle through the trench by subduction, and 
the process continues 
 

TURN OVER and STUDY THE LAYERS OF THE EARTH! 

 
 
Layers of the Earth -