Plate Tectonic Theory

CheckPoint: Plate Tectonic Theory
Your younger brother is in 5th grade. He comes home and
tells you to look at an animation his teacher showed him in geology class.
Review the Continents of the Past animation on the student Web site.
After viewing the animation, your brother has a look of disbelief
on his face, “C’mon, really? Our whole continent moves? That’s bogus!” Instead
of blowing him off like you usually do, you decide to sit down and educate him
about plate tectonics. First, you give him an overview about two historical
figures that contributed to the plate tectonic theory. Then, you decide to show
him how the plates move by boiling a pot of water (shown on p. 108) and
relating it to mantle convection and plate movement.

Write a 200- to 300-word summary about
the two historical figures and the process of mantle convection and plate
movement.