Geology
...nning down in the middle of the two continents on either side of the ocean. This line of mountains was called The Mid Ocean Ridge. When they sent submarines to explore this new discovery, they found under water geysers and strange lifestyles never seen before. The scientists thought that there was an opening in the Earth’s crust along the line, which is why magma flowed through the geysers, warming the water nearby, thus supporting the local lifestyle. Then they discovered that the ocean floor was newer near the ridge than away from it. They believed that new material was flowing through the geysers on the ridge, causing the existing floor to spread away, and new rock taking its place. This is why Africa today is moving further away from America. Next the scientists reviewed where the most recent earthquakes had taken place. They discovered that many occurred along the mid ocean ridge, but many occurred far away from it as well. When these dots on the map were connected, they formed pieces of the earth, just like a jigsaw puzzle. Now scientists knew that The Earth was divided into pieces and that the theory of continental drift was true. They called these pieces Tectonic Plates. This theory of movement of plates was called Plate Tectonics. The reason for their movement is based on a theory which states that the layer of the earth under the crust, the mantel, formed convection currents as it was composed of liquid rock. The crust itself is 30-40kms thick, so now one has actually been able to see the mantel. The scientists then discovered that the plates moved in different directions and collided with other plates differently. Divergent boundaries are two plates that move away from each other. Convergent boundaries are two plates that collide with each other. Transform boundaries are two plates that slide acro...