.... Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 So, we covered the theory of Pangea (you know, where all the continents were together like puzzle pieces and then drifted apart) and I'm really not buying it. :confused: Is there really overwhelming evidence for this? I tend to think of the continents as shaped by sea level. I know there is tectonic plate movement, but...that dramatic?? :tongue_smilie: Anyone teach this lately? We covered it in Apologia Science - it's in the zoology textbook (land animals). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 (edited) What are you basing your skepticism on? I just did a quick calculation. Pangaea existed around 250,000,000 years ago. Europe and North America are moving apart at a rate of about 3 inches per year. That's about 12,000 miles in 250,000,000 years. I guess I'm not understanding why you don't think Pangaea is in the realm of possibility given this amount of movement over the period of time in question. Edited August 28, 2011 by EKS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloha2U Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Here are links to some quick and helpful resources from AiG: A Creationist Perspective: Part 1, The Created World A Creationist Perspective: Part 2, World Underwater A Creationist Perspective: Part 3, Post-Flood World A Creationist Perspective: Part 4, Our Future World Rodinia PDF Download or Rodinia Wall Chart HTH! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 It's a theory based on more then just tectonic plate movement. It also has to do with geology and species in the fossil record and where they're found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share Posted August 28, 2011 What are you basing your skepticism on? I just did a quick calculation. Pangaea was around 250,000,000 years ago. Europe and North America are moving apart at a rate of about 3 inches per year. That's about 12,000 miles in 250,000,000 years. I guess I'm not understanding why you don't think Pangaea is in the realm of possibility given this amount of movement over the period of time in question. See, those calculations make it seem possible. I think I don't know enough about the theory to teach it and the textbook wasn't very convincing. I do find the fossil record to be very convincing. I guess I don't view continents as pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Right, there are tons of connection points for both rocks and fossils that indicate where continents were connected in past. Current sea floor spreading and the rifting of eastern Africa also provide examples of how movement is still occurring. We're talking about things that have happened over huge amounts of time, so the change is imperceptible over the course of human lifetimes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 You can actually measure the continental drift - in Iceland, there is a fault that widens every year by several centimeters. There is fossil evidence as well - similar plant fossils on different continents, Mesosaurus fossils in Brazil and South Africa. There is continuity in glacial sediments. The orientation of magnetic moments in minerals contain information about the earth's magnetic field and their position relative to the poles which can be traced - I am not familiar with the details, but googling paleomagnetism should give you more information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share Posted August 28, 2011 Here are links to some quick and helpful resources from AiG: HTH! :001_smile: Wow, thanks for the links! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 This http://science.discovery.com/convergence/miracleplanet/miracleplanet.html is a wonderful series of documentaries about the history of the Earth. It explains this stuff really nicely and had a lot of surprising information even for us grown ups, but was suitable for my 10 y/o. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share Posted August 28, 2011 You can actually measure the continental drift - in Iceland, there is a fault that widens every year by several centimeters.There is fossil evidence as well - similar plant fossils on different continents, Mesosaurus fossils in Brazil and South Africa. There is continuity in glacial sediments. The orientation of magnetic moments in minerals contain information about the earth's magnetic field and their position relative to the poles which can be traced - I am not familiar with the details, but googling paleomagnetism should give you more information. Ok, I'm trying to remember from school. But isn't there a fault line in the Atlantic that is supposed to be responsible for north America/south America pushing away from Europe/Africa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Thishttp://science.discovery.com/convergence/miracleplanet/miracleplanet.html is a wonderful series of documentaries about the history of the Earth. It explains this stuff really nicely and had a lot of surprising information even for us grown ups, but was suitable for my 10 y/o. Looks like it's available through Netflix on disc too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Right, there are tons of connection points for both rocks and fossils that indicate where continents were connected in past. Current sea floor spreading and the rifting of eastern Africa also provide examples of how movement is still occurring. We're talking about things that have happened over huge amounts of time, so the change is imperceptible over the course of human lifetimes.... :iagree: Although- the earthquake in Japan moved the country 8 inches.... in a few seconds. So while most movement is imperceptible over even thousands of years, there are some dramatic instances of noticeable movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.