Name: Dylan Miguel M.
Parong Section: X- Zeus Score:
Activity # 5
Drifted Supercontinent!
Objectives:
Tell the possible direction of motion of the continents as they drifted away.
Draw fossils of plants and animals as evidence found in the present continents that will help
solve the puzzle in the fitting of the drifted continents.
Reconstruct and describe Pangaea.
Predict what will happen to the world as the continents continuously move.
Materials:
Photocopy of the seven continents, world map, pair of scissors
Procedure:
1. Carefully cut the traces of the seven continents.
2. Sketch the dominant species of plants and animals found in the continents
before and after drifting away from each other.
3. Put the cut-outs together.
Q1. What do the Glossopteris fossils tell us about the early positions of
the continents?
Glossopteris fossils show that the supercontinent Pangaea existed, because
the continents that made up Pangaea now have coal deposits that "match"
the connected continents, it tells us that the continents were once
connected as a supercontinent.
Q2. If Glossopteris fossils were found in Antarctica, what was the climate
of this continent before?
Tropical climate to warm climate
Q3. If the climate and the position of a place are relative to each other,
where then was the initial location of Antarctica 250 million years ago?
It may be located nearer the equator because of the growth of the
glossopteris
Q4. What does the presence of Mesosaurus fossils tell about the initial
location and positioning of South America, Africa, and Antarctica?
It tells us that the continent of South America, Africa, and Antarctica were
once connected in a large landmass. This is because reptiles couldn't swim
across vast oceans and move from continent to continent.
4. Make sure that you put fitting edges of the continents side by side to form
the supercontinent Pangaea>
Q5. What clues are useful in reconstructing Pangaea?
The edges of the continents seem to fit like a jigsaw puzzle and the plants
and animals fossils are present even in two continents that are far from
each other.
Q6. Which continents do you think were neighbors before?
North America, Europe, and Asia were once neighbors because they made up
the Laurasia. On the other hand, Africa, South Asia, Antarctica, Australia
and South America were once neighbors because they were the ones that
made up the Gondwanaland.
Q7. Is there a possibility that the current location of a continent would be
different 100 years from now?
Yes, there is a possible change in the location and position of continents 100
million years from now because of the continents are constantly moving but
very slowly because they only move a few centimeters per year.
Q8. Where do you think was the Philippines located during the time that
the Pangaea existed?
When the Pangaea existed, there was no Philippines yet, because Philippines
is only a product of convergence of the Eurasian and Asian plate and of
cooled magma.
5. Compare Pangaea with the world map.
6. Now, move one continent relative to each current location. Carefully observe
the direction of its motion as it assumes its current location and position.
7. Do the same procedure (6) to the other continents.
Q9. If the continents will continue to move, try to predict the Philippines’
location 100 million years from now.
If the continents continue to move, the Philippines would probably change its
position, it will probably move closer to the Pacific Ocean.
