2.03 MOD Pangaea Gizmo Lab

Part 1: Pangaea Puzzle

Scientists have theorized that the continents were once all connected into a supercontinent called Pangaea.

An Earth Science student used a simulation that allowed them to move Earth's continents and try to put them together like a puzzle:

How well do the continents fit together? Why might they not be a perfect fit?

Part 2: Fossil Evidence

Next, the Earth Science student added the locations of various fossils and tried to fit the continents together so the areas of fossils lined up:

Do fossils support the theory of Pangaea? Why or why not?

Part 3: Rock Evidence

Next, the Earth Science student added the locations of rocks and mountains and tried to fit the continents together so they lined up:

Do rocks and mountains support the theory of Pangaea? Why or why not?

Part 4: Glacial Evidence

Finally, the Earth Science student added the locations of glaciers and tried to fit the continents together so they lined up:

Do glaciers support the theory of Pangaea? Why or why not?

Part 5: Analysis

What evidence (fossils, rocks, or glaciers) is the strongest support of the theory of plate tectonics? Give at least 1 reason why you chose that evidence.