Question

2 scientists have proposed that at one time in earths history there was a supercontinent called pangaea, as shown in the diagram.
which statement describes the causes that most likely led to the breaking apart of pangaea?
a solar radiation from the sun along with meteor impacts caused cracks to form in pangaea.
b convection in earths interior caused pangaea to separate into several different landmasses.
c weathering and erosion caused earthquakes that resulted in breaks in the continental crust.
d forces from within earth resulted in some areas sinking below sea level and others rising upward.

Explanation:

To determine the cause of Pangaea's breakup, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Solar radiation and meteor impacts are not the primary causes of continental drift. Continental movement is driven by internal Earth processes, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: The theory of plate tectonics states that convection currents in the Earth's mantle (interior) cause the movement of tectonic plates. Pangaea, being a supercontinent on these plates, would break apart as the plates move due to mantle convection. This matches the scientific understanding.
• Option C: Weathering and erosion are surface processes that shape landforms but do not cause continental crust to break for supercontinent separation. Earthquakes are a result of plate movement, not the cause of continental breakup here, so C is incorrect.
• Option D: Sinking and rising of areas (isostasy) is related to buoyancy and load changes, not the primary mechanism for supercontinent breakup. The main driver is plate movement from mantle convection, so D is incorrect.

Answer:

B. Convection in Earth’s interior caused Pangaea to separate into several different landmasses.