Question

Seismologist have just registered a large underwater earthquake near sand point, Alaska, that is big enough to produce a tsunami. The ocean depth is unknown but it took five hours to reach Monterey California. Estimate the depth of the ocean where the tsunami originated.

Answer 1

4002.79 m

Explanation:

The distance between Sand Point, Alaska and Monterey California is 3,567 km. The distance velocity equation is given by

d=vt

3567=v*5

v=3567/5=713.4 km/hr=198.16667 m/s

Wave Speed Formula is given by

`v=√(gd)`

where g is the gravity acceleration 9.8 m/s and d is depth, solving for depth we have that

`d=(v^(2) )/(g)`

`d=(198.16^(2) )/(9.8)=4002.79 m`