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Drifting of Continents and Plate Tectonics

ICSE · Class 11 · Geography

Quick revision notes for Drifting of Continents and Plate Tectonics — ICSE Class 11 Geography. Key concepts, formulas, and definitions for last-minute revision.

45 questions34 flashcards5 concepts

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Key Topics to Revise

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1. Wegener's Continental Drift Theory

  • Alfred Wegener was a German scholar and meteorologist who put forward the theory of drifting of continents in 1912 and revised it in 1924.
  • He studied global climatic changes in the past and connected them with the movement of continents.
  • Wegener observed the jig-saw-fit of the Atlantic coastlines.
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2. Evidence for Continental Drift

  • Wegener used several kinds of evidence to support continental drift.
  • The ancient mountain belt is 470 to 350 million years old and is now separated by the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Gold deposits in Ghana coast alluvium do not have local source rocks, but matching gold veins are found in Belen Sau Brazil across the Atlantic.
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3. Criticism of Wegener's Theory

  • Wegener's theory was criticised on several grounds.
  • The jig-saw-fit is not as complete as claimed; South America and Africa leave a gap of about 15°.
  • F.B. Taylor deduced an outward radial drift from the poles, which differed from Wegener's idea of westward and equatorward drift.
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4. Sea Floor Spreading

  • Sea-floor spreading explains how new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges.
  • Molten rocks rise through cracks on the ocean floor and form new crust.
  • The ocean floor spreads away from the ridge and the ocean basin widens.

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Full Notes

Key Concepts

Alfred Wegener proposed in 1912Pangaea was the supercontinent formedLaurasia was the northern partWegener used the jigThe theory was criticised because

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Drifting of Continents and Plate Tectonics for ICSE Class 11 Geography?
Key topics in Drifting of Continents and Plate Tectonics include Logic flow showing how the jig-saw fit observation led to the conclusion that continents were once connected and later drifted apart., Mind map showing the structure and components of the Pangaea supercontinent and its two major divisions., Timeline showing the three major stages of continental drift from Pangaea to present-day continental positions.. These are the concepts ICSE Class 11 examiners draw on most — study them first, then practise related questions.
How to score full marks in Drifting of Continents and Plate Tectonics — ICSE Class 11 Geography?
Understand the core concepts first, then work through the 45 practice questions available for this chapter. Revise formulas and definitions regularly, and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

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