Texas A&M University (TAMU) GEOL101 Principles of Geology Exam 1 Practice Exam

The hypothesis that suggests all present continents were once part of a single supercontinent is known as continental drift. This concept was primarily developed by Alfred Wegener in the early 20th century, and it posits that the continents were not always fixed in their current positions but moved over geological time. According to this idea, a vast landmass, which Wegener named Pangaea, began to break apart approximately 200 million years ago, leading to the positions of continents we see today.

Wegener gathered multiple lines of evidence to support his hypothesis, including the fit of continental coastlines, similarities in rock formations and fossil records across oceans, and paleoclimatic evidence that indicated different historical climates than those observed in various regions today. These points collectively illustrate how the continents were once connected, providing credible support for the notion of continental drift.

Understanding this hypothesis is crucial for grasping the framework of modern geology, as it lays the groundwork for the more comprehensive theory of plate tectonics, which explains how and why the continents continue to move today.