Question

As scientists developed the idea of lithospheric plates and tectonic motion, they began considering hypotheses that the Earth may be shrinking or expanding in size. In general, scientific hypotheses can either be rejected or supported by new evidence or observations that are made. To test the hypotheses that the Earth may be changing its size, they developed better understandings of plate boundaries and surveyed their distributions across the globe. Divergent boundaries create new lithosphere. Convergent boundaries destroy and recycle new lithosphere back into the mantle. Transform boundaries allow lithosphere from different plates to slide past one another, neither destroying nor creating new lithosphere. The scientists rejected both the Expanding Earth and Shrinking Earth hypotheses based on these ideas and on the global survey of plate boundaries data. Which one of the following statements is the best explanation for why the Expanding Earth Hypothesis was rejected using this logic and approach?

A. If the hypothesis were true, no lithosphere could be created. Since lithosphere is created at divergent boundaries, the hypothesis must be rejected
B. If the hypothesis were true, no convergent boundaries could exist on Earth Since convergent boundaries exist, the hypothesis must be rejected
C. If the hypothesis were true, no lithosphere could be destroyed. Since lithosphere is destroyed at convergent boundaries, the hypothesis must be rejected
D. If the hypothesis were true, more crust would need to be created than destroyed. Since crust is being created and destroyed in equal amounts the hypothesis must be rejected.
E. If the hypothesis were true no divergent boundaries could be present on Earth. Since divergent boundaries exist, the hypothesis must be rejected.

Answer 1

D. If the hypothesis were true, more crust would need to be created than destroyed. Since crust is being created and destroyed in equal amounts the hypothesis must be rejected.

Step-by-step explanation:

The lithosphere is the rocky layer of the earth, composed of the soil we know, also called the crust. According to the way the limits work, we can see that the crust is destroyed and recreated almost instantly and in equal quantities, maintaining the necessary balance for life on earth to be allowed. We humans cannot perceive this destruction and reconstruction, which shows that it is very controlled and balanced, however, if the hypothesis Expanding Earth and Shrinking Earth were true, applied to the way we live, we would realize that it would be necessary for the crust to be recreated more quickly that destroyed and we know it doesn't.