If a tectonic plate moved 234 km in 23.7 my, what was the speed of this plate motion?
9.87 km/my
55.45 km/my
9.357 km/my
19.873 km/hr
9.123 km/my
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To find the speed of the tectonic plate motion, we can use the formula for speed, which is:
[
\text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}}
]
Given:
- Distance = 234 km
- Time = 23.7 million years (my)
First, we calculate the speed in kilometers per million years (km/my):
[
\text{Speed} = \frac{234 \, \text{km}}{23.7 \, \text{my}} = 9.87 \, \text{km/my}
]
So, the speed of the tectonic plate motion is 9.87 km/my.
Explanation:
Tectonic plates are large slabs of Earth’s lithosphere that move over the asthenosphere, which is a part of the mantle. These plates move at varying speeds, typically ranging from a few centimeters per year to several centimeters per year.
In this case, we are given the distance traveled by a tectonic plate (234 kilometers) over a period of 23.7 million years. This allows us to calculate the speed of the plate’s motion by dividing the distance by the time taken. The result is 9.87 kilometers per million years (km/my), which means the tectonic plate has been moving at an average rate of 9.87 kilometers every million years.
Tectonic plate motion is typically measured in centimeters per year. To get a more practical sense of the speed, we could convert this value from kilometers per million years to centimeters per year:
[
9.87 \, \text{km/my} = 9.87 \times 10^5 \, \text{cm/my}
]
Now, divide by the number of years in a million years (1 million):
[
\frac{9.87 \times 10^5 \, \text{cm}}{10^6 \, \text{years}} = 9.87 \, \text{cm/year}
]
Thus, the plate is moving at approximately 9.87 cm per year, which is a typical rate for tectonic plate motion.
Now, I will generate an image to illustrate the concept of tectonic plate motion.
Here is a diagram illustrating tectonic plate movement. It shows how two plates are moving in opposite directions, with a scale bar indicating the distance traveled (234 km) and a timeline showing 23.7 million years. The speed of the plate motion (9.87 km/my) is also depicted. This visualization helps explain how tectonic plates move over time. Let me know if you’d like further details!