Q29. 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? Q30. If this event continues for millions of years, what do you think will be the effect on the crust? 

Q29. The Earth's crust is made up of tectonic plates that move. The pictures show the process of continental drift, where these plates are shifting, causing the land masses to separate.
Q30. Over millions of years, the continuous movement of tectonic plates will further alter the Earth's surface, creating new geological features and changing the positions of continents and oceans.

Supplemental Knowledge:

The Earth's crust is divided into several large and small tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. These plates are constantly moving, albeit very slowly, due to the convection currents in the mantle caused by the heat from the Earth's core. This movement can cause continents to drift apart or collide, leading to various geological phenomena.

Millions of years ago, all the continents were joined together in a supercontinent known as Pangaea. Over time, tectonic plate movements caused Pangaea to break apart and drift into the positions we see today. This process is known as continental drift.

Practical Insights:

Consider how these tectonic movements impact our daily lives and environment:

Earthquakes: The movement of tectonic plates can cause earthquakes, which can have devastating effects on communities.
Volcanoes: At convergent boundaries where subduction occurs, magma can rise to form volcanoes.
Mountain Formation: The collision of continental plates can create mountain ranges over millions of years.

Ocean Formation: Divergent boundaries can lead to the formation of new ocean basins.
A real-life example is the Atlantic Ocean, which is gradually widening due to divergent boundaries along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Similarly, the Himalayas continue to rise as the Indian Plate collides with the Eurasian Plate.

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