Plate Tectonic Analysis

When you look at a globe of the earth it is easy to think that the earth has always been this way that the continents and the ocean basins have always been where they are now and they will always be. But if you examine the globe closely you may notice something curious. Some of the continents appear as if they have been joined at one time. A good example of this are the coast lines of South America and Africa. When you compare them with just a little bit of adjustment that they match quite nicely like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. And see who the island of Madagascar slides next to Africa. The same goes for North America its Easter coastline it fits nicely with portions of Africa. People have been noticing this kinds of similarities for a long time. In the early 1900’s German scientist Alfred Wegner believed that in the distant …show more content…
The earth was not only cracked but it appeared to be cracked in pieces scientist call these pieces tectonic plates when scientist realized that the earth was broken into plates they finally had enough evidence to explain how it was that continents could move. The theory that explains plate movement is called plate tectonics. To understand more about plate tectonics and continental drift we have to look deep inside the earth the earths interior consist of several different layers the inner core which is believed to be solid iron and very hot, the outer core which Is believed to consist of rocky material so hot that its under such great pressure that it is under liquid state. The mantle which is not as hot as the outer core and not as liquid the mantles outer most portion is solid above that is the outermost layer of the earth the crust. Together the crust and the outer most portion of the mantle form the earths outer shale they are referred to as the