Choose the correct answer in parenthesis.
150 million years ago the continents were ---(closer together / farther apart)--- than they are now. South America and Africa used to be ---(together / apart)---. 100 million years into the future, the continents ---(are / are not)--- in the same positions as they are now. Australia will move ---(north / south)--- and Antarctica will move ---(toward the South Pole / toward the equator)--.
The correct answer choices are as follows:
150 million years ago the continents were (closer together) than they are now. South America and Africa used to be (together). 100 million years into the future, the continents (are not) in the same positions as they are now. Australia will move (north) and Antarctica will move (toward the South Pole).
To determine these answers, we need to understand some basic concepts about plate tectonics and continental drift. The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth's lithosphere (the rigid outer shell that includes the crust and part of the upper mantle) is divided into several large plates that are in constant motion. The movement of these plates over time results in the shifting of continents.
To determine the position of continents millions of years ago or in the future, scientists use various techniques, including fossil and rock records, magnetic field data, and computer modeling. They study the distribution of fossils and rocks on different continents to identify similarities, which suggests that the continents were once connected. They also analyze magnetic stripes on the seafloor and compare them to known periods of magnetic field reversals.
Based on this information, it is determined that 150 million years ago, the continents were closer together than they are now. South America and Africa were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea, which started to break apart around 200 million years ago. This led to the separation of the continents and the formation of the Atlantic Ocean.
Looking into the future, scientists predict that the continents will continue to move, albeit very slowly. The positions of the continents will be different in 100 million years compared to their current positions. For example, Australia is expected to move northward, while Antarctica will move toward the South Pole.
In summary, the correct answer choices are: closer together, together, are not, north, toward the South Pole.