Question

home / study / science / physics / physics questions and answers / tectonic plates are large segments of the earths crust that move slowly. suppose that one such ... Question: Tectonic plates are large segments of the earths crust that move slowly. suppose that one such pl... (2 bookmarks) Tectonic plates are large segments of the earths crust that move slowly. suppose that one such plates has an average speed of v= 4.9 cm/ year.

a) What distance d, in meters, does the plate move 1.2 seconds at this speed?

b) Enter an express in terms of v and numeric values, that gives the plates speed in kilometers per million years.

I understand how to do part a). It is part b) that confuses me.

Answer 1

b)

speed of the plate v = 4 cm /yr

speed     = v*E-5 km /yr

               = v*E-5 * 1.0E6 km /million yr

               = 10v km / m. yr ( v is in cm/year)