What did Alfred Wegener try to prove with fossil evidence?(1 point) Responses that Earth's landmasses move over time that Earth's landmasses move over time that Earth once had no continents that Earth once had no continents that Earth is almost 5 billion years old that Earth is almost 5 billion years old that Earth is round, not flat
Responses that Earth's landmasses move over time
Why were Cynognathus fossils were important to Wegener's theory?(1 point) Responses They were discovered in Antarctica and Africa. They were discovered in Antarctica and Africa. They were found on lands now separated by a wide ocean. They were found on lands now separated by a wide ocean. They were the oldest fossil found at the time. They were the oldest fossil found at the time. They were found on lands joined together today.
They were found on lands now separated by a wide ocean.
Alfred Wegener, a German scientist, proposed the theory of continental drift in the early 20th century. He gathered evidence from various fields, including fossils, to support his theory. Wegener attempted to prove that Earth's landmasses move over time, rather than remaining fixed in their positions.
To understand how Wegener used fossil evidence, we need to dig into the concept of paleontology. Paleontology is the study of ancient life, including plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Fossils, which are the preserved remains or traces of once-living organisms, provide important clues about Earth's past environments and distributions of life.
Wegener noticed that fossils of the same species were found on different continents that are now separated by large bodies of water, such as South America and Africa. For example, similar fossilized plants and animals were discovered in present-day Brazil and Angola. Based on this observation, Wegener proposed that these continents were once connected but drifted apart over time.
To further support his theory, Wegener compared rock formations, mountain ranges, and other geological features across different continents. He noticed that similar landforms and rock layers appeared to line up when the continents were fit together like puzzle pieces.
Overall, Wegener used the distribution of fossils and other geological evidence to suggest that Earth's landmasses are not fixed but have moved throughout history through a process known as continental drift. This theory laid the groundwork for our current understanding of plate tectonics and the dynamic nature of Earth's surface.