How did scientists prove the existence of tectonic plates.
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It was based on several theories each which individually suggested tectonic plates existed but when combined had so much evidence behind it that the theory of plate tectonics was basically irrefutable. For example, visual evidence that the entire landmasses of Earth used to fit together (like a puzzle that was ripped part) was supported by another theory based on fossil record evidence (plants and animals) from across the world. Somebody out there was kicking around the simplest explanation that made all the evidence make sense, and plate tectonics was it.
How plate technics was first theorized and then proven follows a very similar story arc as evolution. Evolution prior to modern science proving it true with DNA research was propped up by a series of theories. Each of these theories alone could only partially point towards Evolution, but when viewed together it was hard to come up with any theory that tied all the evidence together better.
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