Most geologists think the elevation of mountains above sea level is limited by earth's gravity because _______ .

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is known as isostasy, where the thickening of the crust in mountain belts produces a weak deep crust that spreads by gravity collapse, limiting the elevation. This is why most geologists believe that mountains cannot exceed a certain height due to the limitations of Earth's gravity. Choices A and D do not accurately explain this limitation, and while choice B is partially correct (the mantle is weaker than the crust), it does not directly relate to the limitation of mountain height.

Most Geologists Think the Elevation of Mountains Above Sea Level