How does the Theory of Plate Tectonics fail as a theory?
The theory of plate tectonics, proposed in 1915 by Alfred Wegener, was originally not favored too strongly because it lacked a dire factor for a plausible theory- the mechanism. Being able to notice that continents seemed to fit together and continuity of fossils on different continents wasn’t enough to declare plate tectonics the cause of these observations. However, in the 1960’s, after newly released technology was available to investigate the physical world, a mechanism was found. This idea, known as seafloor spreading, built upon the theory of plate tectonics. Using magnetic alignments on the seafloor, scientists were able to see that from mid-ocean ridges (at divergent plate boundaries) the sea floor was spreading apart. Thus, the theory of plate tectonics was not an accepted theory because it lacked a mechanism when it was proposed in 1915. It wasn’t until new technology of the 1960’s allowed scientists to discover the mechanism- seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges. The techn
