What does continental drift mean in science?

Continental drift is the slow, gradual spreading of the continents over time. It is the most accepted theory of plate tectonics Over millions of years, the earth’s crust is composed of several plates. These plates are made up of the uppermost crust and the deeper, denser layer of rock called the mantle, which is sandwiched between the earth’s crust and the earth’s core. They’re all attached to one another by faults, which allow one

What is continental drift mean in science?

Continental drift refers to the gradual, often uneven movement of tectonic plates that make up the surface of the Earth. The plates are composed of rock and often have a variety of different minerals. These plates are often covered by oceanic crust, which is generally several miles thick. Much of the Earth's interior is made up of molten rock. This molten rock is known as magma and the earth's mantle is composed of this molten rock. The movement of the tectonic plates is driven by

What do the terms continental drift mean?

Continental drift is the slow but continuous movement of the continents on the planet. Over time, the continents have moved about one to four centimeters per year, with the rate increasing since the end of the last ice age, about 20,000 years ago. The continents are moving towards the equator as a result of gravitational pull from the sun and the moon.

What does the theory of continental drift mean in science?

The idea that the earth's crust is made up of several smaller plates that are slowly bumping into one another is called continental drift. Over millions of years, the earth's plates can move about several inches. The result of this movement is that continents can collide with one another or even break off into smaller islands. But contrary to what you might think, continental drift did not occur in a sudden cataclysmic event. Rather, it occurs slowly, over millions of years, in a process called plate

What does the process of continental drift mean?

Even though the earth’s surface appears to be relatively still, there is still some movement going on beneath the surface. The earth’s crust is made up of many different “plates” that move over each other. These plates can move independently or as one large piece. When they move, they cause the continents to change shape. This is known as continental drift.