Final answer:
The predictions of earthquakes would be based on ground deformation, seismic gaps, and patterns of past earthquakes, not on unusual animal behavior. Physics plays a key role in these measurements and in understanding plate tectonics, which is fundamental in earthquake prediction. Option B is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
If predictions of earthquakes were possible, such predictions would utilize various scientific observations and data. These could include deformation of the ground surface, which is a physical change that often precedes seismic activity, and seismic gaps along faults, which identify areas along fault lines that have been quiet for long periods and may be sites of future earthquakes. Predictions might also look at patterns and frequency of earthquakes, an approach that involves analyzing historical data to try and find trends that may indicate the likelihood of future seismic events.
However, regarding the specific options provided in the question, the prediction would be based on all except unusual animal behavior. While there have been reports of animals acting unusually before earthquakes, this is not considered a reliable indicator for scientific earthquake prediction. It's more anecdotal and less measurable than other indicators. Accordingly, the correct option here is b) unusual animal behavior.
Furthermore, physics plays a crucial role in understanding plate tectonics and the resulting geological phenomena like earthquakes. However, as much as physics provides a basis for understanding and potentially predicting earthquakes, it does so using measurable and quantifiable data rather than anecdotal observations such as animal behavior.