Chapter 27, Problem 4RQ

To determine

The reason for the rejection of Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift.

Answer to Problem 4RQ

Due to the lack of explanation for the driving force, which is needed for the movement of the continents, the hypothesis of Wegener’s was rejected.

Explanation of Solution

Power, or the energy which causes an object in the motion, is known as the driving force. In the hypothesis of Wegener, it was clearly stated that the continents moved and then joined together to form a larger continent, but the explanation due to which the continents move (driving force) was not given by the Wegener. The proposal of the Wegener was not a visible argument that the continent drifts due to the tidal influence.

Similarly, when the Wegner states that the continents broke through the Earth’s crust like an ice breakers cut through the ice was not an explanatory statement. Due to which the scientific community rejected the Wegener’s hypothesis.

Conclusion:

Therefore, due to the lack of explanation for the driving force, which is needed for the movement of the continents, the hypothesis of Wegener’s was rejected.