Why Wegener’s continental drift theory was rejected?
The main reason that Wegener's hypothesis was not accepted was because he suggested no mechanism for moving the continents. He thought the force of Earth's spin was sufficient to cause continents to move, but geologists knew that rocks are too strong for this to be true.
When was the continental drift theory rejected?
Rejection of Wegener's theory, 1910s–1950s. Although now accepted, the theory of continental drift was rejected for many years, with evidence in its favor considered insufficient. One problem was that a plausible driving force was missing.
What is the continental drift idea who suggested it and why was it rejected?
Alfred Wegener was a German scientist who suggested the theory of continental drift. His theory suggested that Earth was a one big supercontinent called Pangaea. The Pangaea broke up and drifted to form all those continents you see today.
Was Alfred Wegener’s theory accepted?
Wegener first presented his idea of continental drift in 1912, but it was widely ridiculed and soon, mostly, forgotten. Wegener never lived to see his theory accepted—he died at the age of 50 while on an expedition in Greenland. Only decades later, in the 1960s, did the idea of continental drift resurface.
Why did scientists not accept the continental drift hypothesis quizlet?
Why did scientists not accept the Continental Drift hypothesis? It was based on observations from the southern hemisphere which was unfamiliar to most geologists.
When was Wegener’s theory accepted?
Wegener first presented his idea of continental drift in 1912, but it was widely ridiculed and soon, mostly, forgotten. Wegener never lived to see his theory accepted—he died at the age of 50 while on an expedition in Greenland. Only decades later, in the 1960s, did the idea of continental drift resurface.
What was the main reason Wegener’s continental drift hypothesis was rejected quizlet?
Wegener's hypothesis was rejected from geologists because he couldn't identify the cause of continental drift.
When was continental drift accepted?
The first truly detailed and comprehensive theory of continental drift was proposed in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist. Bringing together a large mass of geologic and paleontological data, Wegener postulated that throughout most of geologic time there was only one continent, which he called Pangea.
Which was not used in support of the continental drift hypothesis?
Explanation. Wegener did not use paleomagnetism to support his continental drift hypothesis.
Do you think the scientists of Wegener’s time should have accepted his hypothesis Why or why not?
Therefore the continents have moved over time. Why did geologists reject Wegener's hypothesis? Wegener could not provide an acceptable explanation for the force that pushes and pulls the continents.
What was never proposed as evidence supporting the existence of Pangea?
Because Wegener could not identify a mechanism capable of moving continents. Which of the following was never proposed as evidence supporting the existence of Pangaea? Islands along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with rocks dating back from 542 million to 2500 million years ago.
Is Alfred Wegener’s theory true?
Wegener published his theory in full in 1915, but his contemporaries mostly found it implausible. By 1930 it had been rejected by most geologists, and it sank into obscurity for the next few decades.
Is the idea of Wegener true?
The theory was proposed by geophysicist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener in 1912, but was rejected by mainstream science at the time. Scientists confirmed some of Wegener's ideas decades later, which are now part of the widely accepted theory of plate tectonics (opens in new tab).
Why did most scientists not agree with the continental drift theory quizlet?
Why did most scientists reject Wegener's theory for nearly a half century? Most scientists rejected Wegener's theory because he could not explain the force that pushes or pulls the continents.
Which of the following contradicts the continental drift theory?
The theory of continental drift contradicted the prevailing theory of geosynclines. The geosyncline theory was used to explain how continents, sedimentary layers, and mountains were formed. The scientific community was invested in the geosyncline theory so rejected the Continental drift theory.
What was missing from Alfred Wegener’s hypothesis?
He believed that Pangaea was intact until the late Carboniferous period, about 300 million years ago, when it began to break up and drift apart. However, Wegener's hypothesis lacked a geological mechanism to explain how the continents could drift across the earths surface as he proposed.
What were two aspects of Wegener’s continental drift hypothesis that were objectionable to most Earth scientists?
What two aspects of Wegener's continental drift hypothesis were objectionable to most Earth scientists? His inability to identify a credible mechanism for continental drift and his suggestion that larger and sturdier continents broke through thinner oceanic crust like ice breakers cut through ice.
Why was Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift not accepted by the scientific community quizlet?
Wegener's idea that the continents slowly moved over Earth's surface became known as continental drift. Why was Wegener's hypothesis rejected? Because Wegener could not identify the cause of continental drift, most geologists rejected his idea.
Which of the following statements by Alfred Wegener led to the ultimate rejection of continental drift as a hypothesis about continental movement?
Which of the following statements by Alfred Wegener led to the ultimate rejection of continental drift as a hypothesis about continental movement? Wegener suggested that the continents broke through thinner oceanic crust as they migrated over time.
Who argued forcefully for the idea of continental drift?
chapter 3 geol
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| ________ was an ancient reptile that lived in South America and Africa during the late Paleozoic. | mesosaurus |
| In the early part of the twentieth century, ________ argued forcefully for continental drift. | Alfred Wegener |
| The former late Paleozoic super continent is known as ________. | Pangaea |
Why did most scientists reject Wegener’s theory for almost 50 years?
Why did most scientists reject Wegener's theory for nearly a half century? Most scientists rejected Wegener's theory because he could not explain the force that pushes or pulls the continents.
What was the main problem with continental drift?
The main issue with Wegener's Continental Drift Theory was he did not have a mechanism behind the drifting of continents. He had a substantial amount of evidence that made sense; nonetheless, without a driving force behind it, the scientific community simply discredited his entire idea.
What are the flaws of continental drift theory?
Drawbacks of Continental Drift Theory Forces like buoyancy, tidal currents and gravity are too weak to be able to move continents. Modern theories (Plate Tectonics) accept the existence of Pangaea and related landmasses but give a very different explanation to the causes of drift.
What did Wegener wrong?
We now know that Wegener's theory was wrong in one major point: continents do not plow through the ocean floor.
What was the fatal flaw of Wegener’s theory?
The main problem with Wegener's hypothesis of Continental Drift was the lack of a mechanism. He did not have an explanation for how the continents moved. His attempt to explain it using tides only made things worse. But both Galileo and Darwin had serious flaws in their theories when they were first presented.
Which of the following was not used in support of the continental drift hypothesis?
Explanation. Wegener did not use paleomagnetism to support his continental drift hypothesis.
Which of the following is a reason why continental drift theory was not accepted at first quizlet?
Most scientists did not accept the theory of continental drift because Wegener could not explain how continents were moving around on Earth's surface.
What was never proposed as evidence supporting continental drift?
Because Wegener could not identify a mechanism capable of moving continents. Which of the following was never proposed as evidence supporting the existence of Pangaea? Islands along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with rocks dating back from 542 million to 2500 million years ago.
What disproved Wegener’s theory?
Essentially, Wegener's proposal ( the theory of continental drift ) was rejected because (i) established experts firmly believed in another theory (that the continents and oceans were fixed in position), and (ii) Wegener did not provide a reasonable mechanism which would enable continents to move in the manner he …
What was the problem with continental drift?
The problem that was used to reject Continental Drift is that the theory had no mechanism or explanation for what could cause the movement of the massive continents.