Plate Boundaries > Step Two

When Wegener devised the Continental Drift hypothesis he envisioned the continents moving either over or through the ocean basins. This was one of his greatest difficulties. Geophysicists correctly pointed out that the frictional resistance in such a scenario would be impossibly large and the rocks would simply shatter. 

Examine the relationship between continents and plates by looking at the maps you created in Exercise 2, Plate Boundaries. Answer the following questions and turn them in to your instructor.

1. In general, do continental shorelines coincide with plate boundaries?

2. Are there any plates that have both continents and oceans?

3. Are there any plates with only ocean?

4. Are there any plates made only of continent?

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