Evidence for the drifting of continents or plate tectonics on Earth is
A) the manner in which the outlines of continents fit together much like puzzle pieces.
B) the similarity of rocks found occurring along certain continental coastal areas.
C) the long, continuous ridges found in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
D) all of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All the options mentioned (A, B, and C) provide evidence for the theory of plate tectonics or the drifting of continents on Earth. The way in which the coastlines of certain continents fit perfectly like puzzle pieces (e.g., South America and Africa) suggests that they were once joined together and have since drifted apart. The similarity of rock types and geological features between certain coastal areas (such as the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States and Scotland, or the Cape Fold Mountains of South Africa and the Andes of western South America) further supports this idea, as it would be unlikely for such similarities to exist if these regions had always been separated by vast oceans. Finally, the long ridges found in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean (and other oceanic areas) are evidence of seafloor spreading, where new oceanic crust is formed at these ridges and spreads outwards in both directions, gradually pushing the continents further apart.

Evidence for the Drifting of Continents or Plate Tectonics on Earth