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EnglandGeologyQuick questions
Earth structure and global tectonics
Quick questions on Plate tectonics theory and evidence: continental drift, sea-floor spreading and palaeomagnetism - Eduqas A-Level Geology
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is continental drift (Wegener)?Show answer
In 1912 Alfred Wegener proposed that the continents had once been joined in a supercontinent (Pangaea) and had since drifted apart. He assembled four main lines of evidence:
What is sea-floor spreading (Hess)?Show answer
The missing mechanism was found on the ocean floor. In the early 1960s Harry Hess proposed sea-floor spreading: new oceanic crust forms where basaltic magma rises at the mid-ocean ridges, then moves outwards symmetrically on both sides as the ridge keeps erupting. Old crust is destroyed at subduction zones, so the ocean floor is a continuously recycled conveyor belt.
What is q1?Show answer
State two pieces of evidence Wegener used for continental drift, and the reason his theory was rejected. [3 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain why the magnetic stripes on the ocean floor are symmetrical about a mid-ocean ridge. [3 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Name the three forces that drive plate movement and state which is thought to be strongest. [2 marks]
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