QUESTIONS 1. What are common in the four pictures? 2. Millions of years ago, the land masses in each picture were once connected. What do you think is happening to the Earth's crust in those pictures? 3. Complete the drawing below to illustrate your answer in question no. 2 At present After millions of years

Common Feature:

The four pictures show rift valleys or fissures, which are areas where the Earth's crust is being pulled apart.
Earth's Crust Activity:

The Earth's crust is experiencing rifting, a process where tectonic plates move apart, leading to the formation of new crust as magma rises to fill the gap.
Drawing Completion:

To complete the drawing, illustrate the rift widening over millions of years. The land masses on either side of the rift should be further apart, with a larger gap filled by new crust or ocean water.

Supplemental Knowledge：

Key Concepts:
 

Plate Tectonics:

The Earth's crust is divided into several large and small tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. These plates move due to convection currents in the mantle.
 

Continental Drift:

Millions of years ago, the continents were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea. Over time, plate movements caused Pangaea to break apart and drift to their current positions.
 

Rift Valleys:

Rift valleys are formed by the divergent movement of tectonic plates. As plates move apart, magma rises from below the Earth's surface to fill the gap, creating new crust.

Concepts to Actions：

Understanding plate tectonics helps explain natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain formation:

Earthquakes:
Occur when stress built up along plate boundaries is released.

Volcanoes:
Form at divergent boundaries (where new crust is created) or convergent boundaries (where one plate subducts under another).
For example, the East African Rift Valley is a real-world illustration of continental rifting where Africa is slowly splitting into two separate landmasses.

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