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?
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.
b. 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.
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.
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?
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.
b. 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.
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.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The most accurate explanation for how the 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 answer describes the process of plate tectonics, where tectonic plates move over geological time due to mantle convection. As these plates diverge, new material can be added from below, which explains the separation of landmasses while simultaneously forming new oceanic crust between them.
**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 answer describes the process of plate tectonics, where tectonic plates move over geological time due to mantle convection. As these plates diverge, new material can be added from below, which explains the separation of landmasses while simultaneously forming new oceanic crust between them.