. Fossil remains of Glossopteris (an extinct plant with large leaves) have been discovered in India and Australia. When they were living, all the Glossopteris were located together on land, but now the Glossopteris fossils are separated by an ocean. What could explain how these fossils got so far apart?

Question

Responses

a
India and Australia are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.
India and Australia are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.

b
India and Australia 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.
India and Australia 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.

c
India and Australia are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.
India and Australia are parts of different plates. The plates floated away from each other across the ocean.

d
India and Australia 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.

Answer 1

The best explanation for how the fossils of Glossopteris got so far apart is:

a. India and Australia are parts of different plates. The plates slowly moved apart as new plates from underneath got added between them over millions of years.

This response correctly describes the process of plate tectonics, where tectonic plates move over geological time due to the movement of the Earth's mantle. It emphasizes the gradual nature of the movement and the addition of new material (such as magma) that can form new oceanic crust.