Geography Questions
Which evidence for plate tectonics do you consider to be the most important in explaining the theory? Why?
The most important part of the plate tectonic theory that is deemed to explain the whole context of the theory is the fact that the earth is made up of subsections which are in constant random motion. The fact that that these subsections are in constant random movement makes us to understand the reason as to why there are various type of activities such as volcanic activities, the formation of the convergent, divergent boundaries and the transform faults along these subsections of the earth (Falvey, 22). Additionally, it is from the constant movement that we understand the generation of the various physical features across the world and we are able to relate them to the real events that occurred in these areas as connoted by the movements here. In summary the understanding brought out by the movement forms the backbone for which various phenomena happening on the earth’s crust can be explained (Falvey, 12).
Please briefly describe how the conditions of early Earth can be replicated today in a laboratory setting?
In the early earth, there were fewer chemicals in the atmosphere for replication. To represent the early earth in a laboratory setting, an experiment is quite important in this case. In the experiment, we would use the various chemicals such as water, ammonia, methane and hydrogen since these are the main components that are available on the early earth (rud’homme-Généreux, and Rosalind, 5). The chemicals are the enclosed into a sterilized flask which is deemed to be connected to another flask half full of liquid water. The liquid water is induced to produce evaporation through heating which is channeled to the larger flask. Electrical sparks are then continually being fired between the various electrodes to connote and simulate the lightning to instigate the gaseous mixture and the vapor from the liquid water. This mixture of the vapor and other gaseous mixture instigated by the heat from smaller flask simulated the constituents of the earth’s atmosphere in the ancient days (rud’homme-Généreux, and Rosalind, 6).
Work cited
Falvey, David A. “The development of continental margins in plate tectonic theory.” APEA J 14.1 (1974): 95-106.
Prud’homme-Généreux, Annie, and Rosalind Groenewoud. “The Molecular Origins of Life: Replication or Metabolism-First? Introductory Version.” National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science George D. Cody (2004).