gen-define-continental-drift-and-give-one-short-worked-example-ebac

Define continental drift and give one short worked example.

# Continental Drift **Definition:** Continental drift is the theory that Earth's continents have moved slowly across the planet's surface over geological time, changing their positions relative to each other and to the poles. ## Worked Example: South America and Africa **Observation:** The eastern coastline of South America and the western coastline of Africa fit together like puzzle pieces. **Evidence:** - **Geographic fit:** When placed together, the continental shelves match remarkably well - **Fossil records:** Identical fossils of *Mesosaurus* (a freshwater reptile) found in both Brazil and South Africa - **Rock formations:** Mountain ranges and rock layers of the same age and type align across both continents **Conclusion:** These continents were once joined together as part of the supercontinent Pangaea approximately 200 million years ago, then drifted apart as the Atlantic Ocean formed between them, moving at roughly 2-3 cm per year. This evidence supports that continents are not fixed but have moved throughout Earth's history.