Theory of Plate Tectonics 1. Wegener suggested there was a fit of the South American and African continents. 2. The occurrences of unusual geologic structures and plant and animal fossils found on the matching coastlines of South America and Africa, which were then separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Wegener reasoned that it was physically impossible for most of these organisms to swim or be transported across the ocean. 3. Plate movements over periods of months to decades have been measured directly using extremely precise positioning equipment. Plate movements over millions of years can be estimated from seafloor spreading rates. 4. Confirmation of repeated reversals of the Earth magnetic field in the geologic past. 5. Radiometric dating of the Earth's crust has found that crust in areas where there is sea floor spreading is the youngest crust on Earth.

Question

what is evidence and what is inference

Answer 1

Evidence:
1. The fit of the South American and African continents suggested by Wegener.
2. Occurrences of unusual geologic structures and plant and animal fossils found on the matching coastlines of South America and Africa.
3. Plate movements that have been directly measured using precise positioning equipment.
4. Confirmation of repeated reversals of the Earth's magnetic field in the geologic past.
5. Radiometric dating of the Earth's crust indicating that the crust in areas with seafloor spreading is the youngest.

Inference:
1. Wegener's reasoning that it was physically impossible for most organisms to swim or be transported across the ocean.
2. The estimation of plate movements over millions of years based on seafloor spreading rates.