Reversals of the earth's magnetic polarity
A) occur with a regular periodicity; the next one will happen in about 140 years.
B) have occurred randomly in the past and represent times when the south magnetic pole was swapped in location with the north magnetic pole.
C) have occurred randomly in the past and represent times when the earth turned upside-down
D) are a consequence of major earthquakes.
E) have not happened since the end of the Paleozoic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement "have occurred randomly in the past and represent times when the south magnetic pole was swapped in location with the north magnetic pole" accurately describes the phenomenon of magnetic polarity reversals. They do not occur with regular periodicity, and they do not indicate the earth turning upside-down or earthquakes. While the interval between reversals has varied throughout time, the most recent reversal occurred about 780,000 years ago, so E is incorrect.

Reversals of the Earth's Magnetic Polarity