The name of the supercontinent that existed 300 million years ago
Evidence for continental drift
Fit of the continents
Fossil evidence
Similar rock types & geological features
Ancient climate
Divergent plate boundaries
Two plates moving apart (constructive margins)
Divergent plate boundaries
Mid-ocean ridges and continental rifts are formed
Mid-ocean ridges and continental rifts are formed at divergent plate boundaries
Convergent plate boundaries
Plates moving toward each other (destructive margins)
Convergent plate boundaries
Subduction zones, mountain building
Subduction zones and mountain building are results of convergent plate boundaries
Transform plate boundaries
Plates sliding past each other horizontally (conservative margins)
Convection
The process of heating and cooling of the mantle
Two plates move apart relative to each other. Divergent plate boundaries were formed.
When two oceanic plates collide, the older and denser plate subducts
Ridge push
The force due to the buoyancy of the hot mantle rising to the surface beneath the ridge, pushing tectonic plates apart
Ridge push is a tectonic force caused by the elevated position of mid-ocean ridges. As new crust forms at these ridges, gravity causes the older, denser lithosphere to slide away from the ridge, pushing the tectonic plates apart.
Ridge push occurs at divergent plate boundaries
Slab pull
The force due to the weight of the cold, dense sinking tectonic plate, pulling the rest of the plate behind it
Viscous drag
The force opposing the motion of the plate and slab past the viscous mantle underneath or on the side
Slab pull occurs at convergent plate boundaries
Viscousdrag refers to the resistance encountered by tectonic plates as they move over the viscous, flowing asthenosphere beneath them.
