Question
Similar rock formations have been discovered in Brazil and South Africa. These rock formations were formed at the same time and are made of the same types of rocks. What could explain how these rocks got so far apart?
Responses
a
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates were sometimes pushed far apart by earthquakes, and soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates.
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates were sometimes pushed far apart by earthquakes, and soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates.
b
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.
c
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.
d
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.
Responses
a
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates were sometimes pushed far apart by earthquakes, and soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates.
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates were sometimes pushed far apart by earthquakes, and soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates.
b
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.
c
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.
d
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved far apart as soft, solid rock from underneath got added to the edges of the plates over millions of years.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The best response to explain how the similar rock formations in Brazil and South Africa got so far apart is:
**c**
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.
This explanation aligns with the theory of plate tectonics, which suggests that the continents were once part of a single landmass (Pangaea) and have since drifted apart due to the movement of tectonic plates. As the plates move, new material can be added through processes like seafloor spreading, further separating the continents over geological time.
**c**
Brazil and South Africa are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.
This explanation aligns with the theory of plate tectonics, which suggests that the continents were once part of a single landmass (Pangaea) and have since drifted apart due to the movement of tectonic plates. As the plates move, new material can be added through processes like seafloor spreading, further separating the continents over geological time.