ABSTRACT
In Chapter 1, you were introduced to the scientific method. In Chapter 2, you learned that many scientific contributions preceded Charles Darwin’s work and set the stage for his understanding of evolution. In this chapter, while exploring the theory of plate tectonics, you will see how the scientific method of repeatedly questioning, hypothesizing, testing, and hypothesizing again extends across generations as many scientists investigate natural processes. The way scientists came to understand how continents move is a wonderful example of science in action. As is usual in science, the foundations of this
The origins of plate tectonic theory-how scientists developed and tested it
What drives geosphere movements and how plate tectonics operate
How continents have split apart, moved, and reassembled
How Earth system interactions at plate boundaries are related to earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and ocean basins
How plate tectonic processes affect people by creating both natural hazards and vital natural resources
I N T H I S C H A P T E R Y O U W I L L L E A R N :
understanding go back many generations. It started when the first global maps were made.
