Question

Which scientist published a hypothesis about the geological forces that have shaped the earth, suggesting that rocks form slowly over millions of years and are moved up by forces beneath the Earth's surface to form mountains?

a) Charles Lyell
b) James Hutton
c) Alfred Wegener
d) Nicolas Steno

Answer 1

James Hutton published a hypothesis about geological forces that shape the Earth, suggesting slow and consistent change over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scientist who published a hypothesis about the geological forces that shape the Earth, suggesting that rocks form slowly over millions of years and are moved up by forces beneath the Earth's surface to form mountains, is b) James Hutton.

James Hutton, a Scottish geologist, proposed that geological change occurs gradually over long periods of time due to processes operating like they do today, contrary to the prevailing view of catastrophic events shaping the geology of the planet. His ideas were later popularized by Charles Lyell and influenced the thinking of Charles Darwin.

For example, Hutton suggested that valleys could be formed by rivers wearing through rocks, supporting his hypothesis of slow and consistent change. This idea of gradual change in the Earth's features forms the basis of Hutton's theory, which was significant in shaping modern geology.