With reference to the Energy Responsible for Continental Drift according to Alfred Wegner which of t...........

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With reference to the Energy Responsible for Continental Drift according to Alfred Wegner, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The equator ward movement of southern part of broken Pangaea was mainly caused by gravitational differential force.

2. The westward movement of the continents was caused by the tidal force of the Sun and the Moon.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Explanation:

According to Wegener the continents after breaking away from the Pangaea moved in two directions: (i) Equator ward movement; and (ii) Westward movement. Statement 1 is correct: The equator-ward movement of southern part of broken Pangaea was mainly caused by gravitational differential force and force of buoyancy. The continental blocks are formed of lighter materials (SIAL) and are floating with friction on relatively denser oceanic crust (SIMA). Thus the equator ward movement of the continental blocks would depend on the relation of the centre of gravity and the centre of boundary of the floating continental mass. Statement 2 is correct: The westward movement of the continents was caused by the tidal force of the Sun and the Moon. According to Wegener, the maximum gravitational force of the Sun and the Moon was there when the Moon was nearest to the Earth. The force dragged the SIAL over the interior of the Earth, SIMA towards the west.