The Tetrahedral Hypothesis of the origin of continents and ocean basin was proposed by
- A.F.B. Taylor
- B.Lowthian Green
- C.Alfred Wegener
- D.W.M. Davis
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Lowthian Green. The English geologist William Lowthian Green put forward the Tetrahedral Hypothesis in 1875 to explain how continents and ocean basins are arranged.
Green argued that as the earth cooled, its crust shrank and the planet tended towards the shape of a tetrahedron, a solid with four triangular faces, because that shape holds the least volume for a given surface. The flat faces would sink and hold the oceans, while the four corners and edges would stand up as land. This was used to explain why land is concentrated in the northern hemisphere, why the oceans are roughly opposite the continents, and why the southern continents taper to points. The idea is now of only historical interest, replaced by plate tectonics.
A is wrong because F.B. Taylor proposed a theory of continental sliding in 1910 to explain young fold mountains. C is wrong because Alfred Wegener gave the Continental Drift theory in 1912. D is wrong because W.M. Davis is known for the cycle of erosion, not for the origin of continents.
Exam tip: Green: Tetrahedral Hypothesis 1875; Taylor: sliding 1910; Wegener: drift 1912; Davis: cycle of erosion.
Practice Questions
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- A.Two
- B.Three
- C.Four
- D.Six
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- A.Pothole
- B.Oxbow lake
- C.Levee
- D.Rapid
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- A.Maharashtra
- B.Madhya Pradesh
- C.Odisha
- D.Punjab
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Read the full explanation →Doldrum are
1. equatorial calms
2. calm and light winds
3. roaring forties
4. variable both in position and in extent
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1, 2 and 4
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3
- D.2, 3 and 4
Show answer
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- A.Agra
- B.Bhagalpur
- C.Bhopal
- D.Kanpur
Show answer
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Read the full explanation →