What was unknown to scientists during Wegener’s time?(1 point)
The mechanism of continental drift.
During Wegener's time, there were several aspects that were unknown to scientists. Some of the main points are:
1. Mechanism of continental drift: Although Wegener proposed the idea of continental drift, the exact mechanism behind it was not understood. The concept of plate tectonics, which explains the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates, was developed much later.
2. Seafloor spreading: The process of seafloor spreading, in which new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges, was not known at the time. This discovery contributed significantly to the understanding of plate tectonics.
3. Mechanism of plate tectonics: Scientists were unaware of the broader concept of plate tectonics, which incorporates both continental drift and seafloor spreading. It wasn't until the mid-20th century that the theory of plate tectonics was developed.
4. Geological time scale: During Wegener's time, scientists had a limited understanding of the geological time scale and how it related to the formation and movement of continents. It was only with the advancement of radiometric dating techniques that a more precise geological time scale was established.
These unknowns highlight the progress that has been made in the field of Earth sciences since Wegener's time.
During Wegener's time, one of the major unknowns for scientists was the mechanism behind continental drift. Although Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift, which suggests that the Earth's continents were once connected and drifted apart over time, he was unable to provide a convincing mechanism to explain how this movement occurred.
To understand what was unknown to scientists during Wegener's time, we can explore the historical context. In the early 20th century, when Wegener introduced his theory, the prevailing view among scientists was that the continents were fixed and immovable. Wegener's hypothesis challenged this notion, proposing that the continents had, in fact, moved over geological time.
However, Wegener's theory was met with skepticism and faced resistance from the scientific community. One of the reasons for this skepticism was the lack of a plausible mechanism to explain how the continents moved. Wegener suggested that the continents moved through what he called "continental drift," driven by various forces, including the centrifugal force caused by the Earth's rotation and gravitational forces.
At the time, scientists lacked the technological tools and detailed data to fully understand and explain the processes occurring deep within the Earth. The understanding of plate tectonics, the driving force behind continental drift, was yet to develop. It wasn't until the mid-20th century, several decades after Wegener's theory, that advancements in seismic studies, mapping of the ocean floor, and paleomagnetism provided strong evidence for plate tectonics and the mechanism of continental drift.
In summary, during Wegener's time, the unknowns for scientists revolved around the mechanism behind continental drift and the skepticism towards the concept of moving continents. It took further advancements in scientific understanding and technologies to unravel the mysteries of plate tectonics and confirm Wegener's theories.