Question

evidence #3: at the bottom right side of the screen click on \tectonic fit\.

1. how do mountain ranges support wegners theory that all of the land on earth was once connected together?

similar rock types + structures in many mountain ranges on different continents suggest they were once part of continuous mountain - building process when continents were joined
evidence #4: at the bottom right side of the screen click on \glacial deposits\.

1. which continents have evidence of glacial deposits?

antarctica, south america, africa, india, australia

1. knowing what the continents from #5 are like today, does it make sense that they were once covered with ice? why or why not?
2. what can scientists learn from glacial striations (scratches across earths surface)?

evidence #5: at the bottom right side of the screen click on \fossil evidence\.

1. how do index fossils support wegners theory that all of the land was once connected together?
2. there was a question about whether or not the organisms (whose fossils we are using as evidence) actually existed on a supercontinent. there were two possible alternative explanations.

a. do you think it would be possible for species to evolve (change) in the exact same ways even though they were separated by oceans? why or why not?
b. what do you think the odds are that a pair of breeding organisms traveled across the ocean to another continent and then started a new, second population? explain your reasoning.

Explanation:

1. It does make sense. Antarctica is still covered in ice. South America, Africa, India, and Australia had different climates in the past when global climate was colder and the continents were in different positions relative to the poles. Glacial deposits are remnants of that colder - climate past.
2. Glacial striations can tell scientists the direction in which glaciers moved. The scratches are created as glaciers drag rocks and debris across the Earth's surface, and the pattern of striations reveals the flow path of the ice.
3. Index fossils are fossils of species that lived for a relatively short period of time but were widespread. If the same index fossils are found on different continents, it suggests that those continents were once connected, allowing the species to inhabit a continuous area.

9a. It is highly unlikely for species to evolve in the exact same ways even when separated by oceans. Different environmental pressures, available resources, and random genetic mutations in isolated populations would lead to different evolutionary paths.
9b. The odds are extremely low. Traveling across an ocean is a difficult and dangerous journey for breeding organisms. There are many challenges such as lack of food, exposure to harsh oceanic conditions, and the possibility of being eaten by predators. Also, for a new population to be established, there needs to be a sufficient number of breeding - capable individuals of both sexes, which is hard to achieve with a single pair traveling across the ocean.

Answer:

1. It makes sense. Antarctica is icy now, and others had different climates in the past when global climate was colder and continents were in different positions.
2. They can learn the direction of glacier movement as scratches are made by glaciers dragging debris.
3. Same index fossils on different continents suggest they were once connected for species to spread.

9a. Unlikely. Different environments and genetic mutations in isolation lead to different evolutions.
9b. Extremely low. Ocean travel is hard, dangerous, and requires many factors for a new population to start.