Question

assuming that the seafloor is spreading at a rate of 1.3cm/yr, calculate how long it took africa's west coast to move 2400 kn away from the mid atlantic ridge

Answer 1

Answer: 184,615,384.6 years

Step-by-step explanation:

This problem can be solve by the following equation:

`V=(d)/(t)` (1)

Where:

`V=1.3 (cm)/(year) (1 km)/(100000 cm)=0.000013 (km)/(year)` is the spreading rate of the seafloor, its velocity

`d=2400 km` is the distance the Africa's west coast moved at this rate

`t` is the time it took to the coast to move the descibed distance

Isolating
`t` from (1):

`t=(d)/(V)` (2)

`t=(2400 km)/(0.000013 (km)/(year))` (3)

Finally:

`t=184,615,384.6 years` This is the time it took to the Africa's west coastto move away from the Mid atlantic ridge.