The Scientific Method

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Recommended: Climatological evidence for continental drift

To support the theory of continental drift is through topography, surveying the floors of oceans, charts of rock magnetism, and statistics on rock ages (Trefil & Hazen, 2010). At one time scientist believed that the deep ocean floors were flat; accumulating the sediment that progressively wore away from the prehistoric landmasses (Trefil & Hazen, 2010). However, they discovered steep-walled valleys and elevated highlands. This was evidences that just as the continents are transformed and are active, so to is the seafloor (Trefil & Hazen, 2010). The Mid- Atlantic Ridge, positioned in the central part of the Atlantic Ocean, is recorded to be the longest mountain range on this planet. Volcanoes, lava flow, and earthquakes are a source of geological activity that occurs with regularity along related long ridges in our seas. Over 52,800 miles of ocean ranges have been charted by oceanographers (Trefil & Hazen, 2010).

The magnetic field of the earth also provides evidence of the movements of continents. The north and south magnetic poles of this planet vary occasionally, approximately the same way the currents path varies in the coils of an electromagnet (Trefil & Hazen, 2010). Data has revealed that the magnetic field of earth, over a period of 200 million years, chronicled in prehistoric rock, that there have been 300 turnarounds. Geological iron oxides which are small naturally magnetic crystals are found in lava flow. When this iron oxide is flowing in the lava it acts as a magnet. Because the mineral is naturally magnetic it has the ability to position itself in the direction corresponding to this planet’s magnetic field (Trefil & Hazen, 2010). Consequently, the molten rock transports a record of where the magnetic north p...

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...rdc.org/land/wilderness/arctic.asp

Nelson, S. (2003). Global Tectonics. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from

http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/geol111/pltect.htm

The Scientific Method. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2011 from

http://www.punaridge.org/doc/teacher/method/Default.htm

Trefil, J., & Hazen, R. (2010). The Sciences: An Integrated Approach (Rev.ed). [Ebrary

Reader version]. Retrieved from https://campus.ctuonline.edu

U.S. Geological Survey. (2011). Plate Tectonics and People. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/tectonics.html

U.S. Geological Survey. (2009). The Richter Magnitude Scale. Retrieved November 6, 2011

from http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/richter.php

What is The Scientific Method? (2011). Retrieved November 6, 2011

from http://www.experiment-resources.com/what-is-the-scientific-method.html

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