1. Explain why Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift was not initially accepted by the scientific community.

Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift was not initially accepted by the scientific community for several reasons:

1. Lack of Mechanism: Wegener couldn't provide a satisfactory explanation for the physical processes which could drive continental movement. His suggestion that the continents simply plowed through the oceanic crust was met with skepticism.

2. Opposition from Established Views: The prevailing view at the time was that the earth's crust was too solid for such movement to occur. Wegener's theory directly contradicted this.

3. Insufficient Data: Wegener's evidence was mainly based on the apparent fit of the continents, particularly Africa and South America, and the distribution of fossils. Many scientists felt that this evidence was not strong enough to support his theory.

4. Wegener's Background: Wegener was a meteorologist, not a geologist. His lack of formal training in geology led many in the field to dismiss his theory.

It wasn't until the mid-20th century, with the development of the theory of plate tectonics, that Wegener's idea of moving continents became widely accepted. This new theory provided the mechanism that Wegener's theory lacked, explaining how the continents could move across the earth's surface.